As Nigeria prepares to mark her 65th independence anniversary, all is set for the fourth edition of the Chief of Defence Staff Unity Basketball South-West tournament, with organisers confirming that the event will tip off on September 30 in Lagos.
The competition, which will feature 12 teams from the Southwestern region of the country, as well as several other invited sides from other parts, will hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium and the Molade Okoya Sports Hall inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
Making this known in a press statement at the Nigeria Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Lagos on Thursday, was Brigadier General Aliyu Lawal (retd.), who said, “The organisation of this championship aligns with the Chief of Defence Staff leadership concept of nurturing a professional Armed Forces that is people-centric and capable of meeting it’s constitutional responsibilities in a joint and collaborative environment.
“The objective of this championship is to strengthen peaceful coexistence in the southwestern geopolitical zone and engage youths positively. The championship, which is a six-day basketball tournament, will feature 12 invited teams from within the southwestern geopolitical zone and two other contiguous states.”
Teams invited for the almost week-long event include Hoops and Reed of Lagos, Sports Nation 365, also of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan, Ondo Raiders, Ogun Rockets, Osun United, Dodan Warriors of Lagos, Ekiti Fountain, Delta Force, Edo Beads, and Police Baton.
Total prize sum of N10m will be split across the teams who finish in podium places, with each invited team also getting the sum of N800,000 from the organisers to aid their logistics to and from the tournament venue.
Action tips off a day later, on September 30 and runs till October 5. The opening ceremony will take place on October 2, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for October 5.
