FCT Academies Set For Inaugural Amateur Basketball League

Twenty boys’ and 20 girls’ teams are set to compete in the inaugural Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) League, which begins on Saturday in Abuja.

The pilot competition will take place at four courts at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Basketball Courts, Package B, with the opening ceremony scheduled for the Mo Arena Gymnasium, Zone 5, Abuja.

Opening-day fixtures in the boys’ category will see TNT Boys face Suleja Bulldog, while Smart Basketball take on Tigers Basketball.

In the girls’ category, Queens Court will meet One Ball, while Dominion Basketball will face Takers Basketball.

Speaking during a technical briefing for participating coaches in Abuja, ABA Technical Officer Adeka Daudu said 14 matches would be played daily during the first week, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final scheduled for the second week.

Daudu urged coaches to view the competition beyond winning, stressing that the league was designed to identify and develop young talent while improving coaching standards, discipline, teamwork and character.

President of the ABA, Aliyu Lucky Abubakar, also challenged coaches to demonstrate professionalism and commitment to the development of the players.

Abubakar said the success of the pilot league would depend largely on the cooperation, discipline and professionalism of the coaches, adding that their responsibility extended beyond producing basketball players to helping develop responsible young Nigerians.

“I therefore urge all coaches to work together, respect one another, respect officials, uphold the rules of the game, and place the interests of the young athletes above personal interests,” he said.

He added that the technical session provided an opportunity to address issues including competition structure, player welfare, officiating, coaching ethics and technical standards.

Among dignitaries expected at the opening ceremony are Minister of Defence Christopher Musa; Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi; Chairman of the FCT Basketball Association and All FCT Sports Chairmen, Igwe Ifeanyi Eke; and Acting FCT Director of Sports, Iyiola Ogundele.

The Inspector-General of Police, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service and Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority are also expected to attend.

The ABA League is being staged as a pilot competition, with organisers expected to assess its structure and development potential after the inaugural edition.