17th September, 2012
Recently, the President of Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation, NWBF, Bukola Olopade announced that arrangements are in top gear for the second edition of the Victor Ochei Wheelchair basketball Championship to be held early next month in Asaba.
This disclosure was received with excitement by wheelchair basketball players in the country, with Muhammed Audu, captain of the national team describing it as the best thing that has happened to the players at this time of the year.
The maiden edition of the tourney, sponsored by the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, was held in February this year, and numerous players from all parts of the country besieged the Township Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.
Speaking with P.M.Sports on the significance of the tourney, Audu, who had a trial in Poland recently said: “We hope everything would work well for the organisers to enable them organise the tourney next month because it will help to put us in shape and prepare us for the next All Africa Games.”
President of WBFN, Bukola Olapade, said their aim is to expose the special athletes to competitive tourneys considering that they were not at the just concluded 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
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.
‘‘This would be the second edition of the first major national championship for special athletes playing basketball. We have put all the machinery in place to organise a hitch-free championship,” Olopade said.
In a statement made available to P.M.Sports, Sponsor of the tourney, Victor Ochei said: “This is our little effort to support Special Sports athletes in the country especially now that they have brought honours to us at the Paralympics. Their impressive performance at the games has shown that they deserve more support from corporate bodies and individuals in terms of sponsorship of competitions and equipment so that they can do more for the nation in the future.”