4th March, 2016
Taiwo Adelu
A relationship that will change the face of basketball in Lagos has just started between the Lagos State Sports Commission and Africa Basketball League (ABL).
The Africa Basketball League is a six-team league where the clubs will be playing home and away matches across four countries in the West African sub-region.
ABL is the brainchild of Africa Sports Entertainment Limited in collaboration with Wakanow Sports.
In the pilot edition of African Basketball League, three teams from Lagos – Stallions Basketball Club, Lagos Islanders and Lagos Warriors – will compete against Abidjan Ramblers from Cote d’Ivoire, Senegalese club, Dakar Rapids, and Izobe Basketball Club from Libreville, Gabon.
At the public unveiling of the partnership at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere on Thursday, Mr. Deji Tinubu, the Special Adviser on Sports to Lagos State Governor, who is also the chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, said that with the plan of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to make Lagos a hub of sports in Africa and create sports culture among the people, the partnership with the ABL will see Lagosians enjoying the best of club basketball of international flavour every weekend starting from 5 March.
According to the former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Lagos will showcase its generous hospitality with the ABL, providing security, transportation and other logistics to ensure the success of the league.
“What we are going to see very soon is that people who are not die-hard fans of the game will come to realize the beauty of basketball.
“I’m so excited that most of the equipment they will use are made in Nigeria products,” Tinubu said.
Chairman of the ABL, Ugo Udezue, said the league will combine entertainment to change the face of basketball in Nigeria.
He added that an ABL Junior League is in the pipeline to cater for the development of the sport among the youth.
According to the CEO of Wakanow.com, Obinna Ezekiel, the tournament offers significant investment opportunities and helps make the players better.
Ezekiel, a former Basketballer himself, said that the league will afford the Nigerian youth the opportunity to showcase their talent, a chance which he was unlucky not to get in his days as a player.
“ABL Junior League will give young players the chance to develop their talent just like high school and college games in the U.S.
“Wakanow.com will boost intra West Africa traveling for players, officials and fans when the league gets underway,” he said.
Chairman of Lagos State Basketball Association, Babs Ogunyale, said that the association will provide technical backup for the African Basketball League.
Matches dunk off this Saturday at the Landmark on Lagos Island by 6:30pm, while more matches will also be played on Sunday.