Independence Basketball Tourney: CDS Affirms Military’s Commitment To Sports Promotion

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General. Christopher Musa, has reaffirmed the military’s commitment toward promoting sports, particularly basketball, as a means of fostering unity and peace in society.

He made the declaration at the opening ceremony of the ongoing Chief of Defence Staff CDS Independence Basketball Championship in Abuja, where exciting matches unfolded on Day 1.

General Musa emphasized the importance of sports as a non-kinetic approach to promoting peace and engaging the youth, just as he highlighted the role of basketball in harnessing the talents of Nigerian athletes and fostering unity within the community.

He assured the military’s dedication to organizing more basketball championships in the future, recognizing the positive impact of sports on society.

The tournament kicked off with a series of intense games that showcased the talents of various teams. The Armed Forces faced a tough challenge from the Hard Rockers, falling short with a score of 49-66. Bauchi Nets and Gilali engaged in a closely contested match, with Gilali emerging victorious at 66-50, Plateau secured a solid win against Kada Stars with a score of 63-55, while Kano Pillars dominated over Niger Potters with a score of 57-40.

Suleja and Gombe Bulls battled it out in a close game, with Gombe Bulls clinching a narrow victory at 65-61. City Chiefs and Rivers Hoopers also delivered an exciting match, ending with Rivers Hoopers prevailing at 51-46. Defenders displayed a strong performance against Novena, securing a convincing win at 80-56.