The South East Basketball Tournament in Umuahia has come to an end with Imo State Basketball team maintaining their dominant position atop the leaderboard.
However, beyond the exhilarating games and nail-biting finishes, coaches and officials alike have underscored the critical importance of blending education with sports for aspiring athletes to enable them build a better career.
Speaking at the end of the tournament, the coach of Imo State Basketball team, Coach Victor Ogugua emphasized the need for young individuals to forge a path that intertwines academic pursuits with sporting ambitions.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to nurture athletes towards a balanced and prosperous future, leveraging basketball as a platform for personal and professional growth.
Coach Ogugua expressed delight in his team’s performance throughout the competition, culminating in their table-topping achievement.
Ogugua noted that the tournament, spanning across Enugu, Imo, Anambra, and Abia states, served as a testament to the talent and dedication prevalent in the South East basketball community.
He affirmed the team’s commitment to continuous improvement, and vowed to dissect their performance and prepare diligently for future competitions.
Also, the Head coach of Abia Stars Basketball, Coach Oriakhi Osagbovo appreciated Governor Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Nwaobilor Ananaba and the Abia State Director of Sports for their unwavering support in elevating basketball within the state.
Coach Osagbovo emphasized that their mission is to cultivate a formidable team that would bring pride and glory to Abia on the national stage.
“We are trying to raise a team for the state. That is what we’ve been doing and bringing athletes up in participating in this competition has been one of our targets ever since the Governor supported us with a proper equipment that is of international standard.
“We are bringing up both the junior and senior teams hoping that they would compete in more events and bring glory to Abia state”.
Coach Osagbovo expressed hope that with more camps and preparations, the state would be very ready for the next competition that would come, adding that losing out with a point would not douse their tempo.
Contributing the Abia Stars Basketball coach, Coach Chinedu Stone and Secretary Mrs. Pascaline Edozie commended the spirited performance of the Abia team, despite narrowly missing out on victory by a single point.
They highlighted the resurgence of basketball within Abia, attributing it to Governor Alex Otti’s visionary leadership and tangible support for the sport.
