Mark Charges Sports Stakeholders

President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has reiterated the need for governments and corporate organisations to develop sports as potential avenues for national unity and integration in the New Year.

Beside national integration and unity, Senator Mark said sports is needed to keep the youth busy and out of societal vices.

Declaring open the 2011 “Mark D Ball Basket Ball” competition, which started in Otukpo, Benue State early this week, Mark noted that the yearly tournament, which started like mere recreation event, has now become a gathering of future basketball stars in Nigeria.

He, therefore, challenged competitors in this years fiesta not to leave the championship without putting in the best for the growth of the game.

He lauded the efforts of basketball veterans towards the promotion of the slam and dunk game in Nigeria.

In the exhibition game dunked off by the President of the Senate, veterans of Otukpo slammed their counterparts from Abuja by 23 to 17 points.

In their separate goodwill messages, Coach Alex Nwora of the ERIE Community College, Buffalo, New York, Colonel Samuel Ahmedu of the SIBA – AFRICA and Obonle Ogbole; Co-ordinators of Mark D Ball competition commended President of the Senate for promoting sporting activities in the country.