ABA Takes Grassroots Basketball Coaching Clinic To Jalingo, Gombe

The Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) will continue its nationwide grassroots basketball development programme this weekend with a coaching clinic in Jalingo, Taraba State, as part of efforts to strengthen basketball development across Nigeria.

The ABA Board, led by its President, Deputy Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Aliyu Lucky Abubakar, is expected to arrive in Jalingo on Saturday for a one-day training programme for academy coaches.

The clinic follows the successful conclusion of the “Team Work” coaching clinic in Makurdi, Benue State, where 11 coaches from eight basketball academies participated in a one-day capacity-building session.

Tagged “Drive”, the Jalingo programme is the fourth leg of ABA’s nationwide coaching initiative, which began in June in Abuja before moving to Minna, Niger State, and later Makurdi.

Organised in partnership with the Taraba State Basketball Association, the clinic is designed to enhance grassroots basketball development by identifying emerging talent and equipping academy coaches with modern coaching skills.

Participants will receive updates on the latest basketball rules, coaching techniques and tactical approaches in line with global best practices.

Speaking ahead of the programme, Abubakar said the initiative goes beyond talent discovery, stressing that it also promotes coach education, structured training systems, athlete mentorship and sustainable player development.

“ABA strongly believes that the future of Nigerian basketball begins at the grassroots level. We believe every community court can produce champions. We believe every trainer can become a transformational leader. We believe every child deserves an opportunity to dream through sports,” he said.

Following the Jalingo clinic, the ABA coaching team, comprising Daudu Adeka, Emmanuel Odah, Alex Ujoh and Oyekan Oyedeji, will travel to Gombe on Monday to continue the grassroots coaching programme.

The ABA has continued to expand its nationwide initiative as part of its commitment to developing coaches and nurturing the next generation of basketball talent across the country.