20th February, 2012
Wheelchair basketball players in the country besieged the Township Stadium in Asaba, Delta State since Saturday, 18 February, 2012 for the maiden edition of wheelchair basketball tourney, sponsored by the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei.
The week-long championship which dunked-off yesterday will end on 25 February, 2012 with N2.5m as prize money for the first placed team.
Speaking with P.M Sports on the significance of the tourney, the secretary of Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria, WBFN, Hajia Wasilat Abass, said: “It will help to put our players in shape and prepare them for the next All Africa Games.”
President of WBFN, Bukola Olapade, said their aim is to improve wheelchair basketball in the country by exposing the athletes to competitive tourneys.
The former Commissioner for Sports in Ogun State assured of a hitch-free championship, saying that all the necessary arrangements have been put in place for a successful championship.
Olopade said: ‘‘This is the first major national championship for special athletes playing basketball and at the federation level. We have put all the machineries in place to organise a hitch-free championship.”
—Bamidele Olowosegba