The South East representative on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation
Ugo Udezue has charged the board of the South East Basketball Association to show more commitment and bonding as one unit as the 2023 basketball season throws up better opportunities for the growth of the game in the zone and the country as a whole.
He made this remark at the first board meeting of the zone which was held on the 20th of January 2023 via zoom.
The former D’ Tigers player urged all stakeholders to come together as one family to take the development of the game to the next level in the region.
“We must see the development of the game of basketball in the zone as a collective responsibility which requires us to work as a team, he said.
The meeting which lasted for an hour saw all the state chairmen give an account of stewardship for last year and projected for the new year 2023.
From the comments of the chairmen, the year will be loaded as all the states are looking forward to churning out top events for the year.
The chairman of the Imo state basketball association Anosike Kelechi revealed that the state will be very busy this year as their calendar is already filled with activities ranging from the usual Oweeri Classics which was held three times last year, to new programs like the 3×3 basketball, tertiary basketball competitions, and others.
Anosike said they are working hand in hand with the Imo State Government to ensure that all the programs they have planned for this year are carried out.
Abia state chairman Victor Okoro also revealed that they are set to turn things around in the state as they will not be left out of the big positive wave set to sweep through the South East this year.
He maintained that the state will also be organizing a 3×3 basketball competition and focusing on other national competitions like the Total Energies division 2 coming this year.
The former national team player called on all state stakeholders in the state to come together to push the game of basketball to the expected height.
The focus for Enugu state will be a total relaunch into the basketball family as they intend to be a part of all that is at stake in the slam-dunk game this year, revealed the chairman Mayor Chinedu Nam who was represented by the Secretary of Enugu state basketball association Osondu Ngwude.
Except for a few clinics like the Adaora foundation basketball clinic for women, and the Ejike Uguaja basketball clinics not much happened in Coal city last year.
According to Osondu the ESBA is set to attend all the national basketball championships billed for the year ranging from the TotalEnergies division 1&2 and the Zenith female basketball women leagues.
The state will also be organizing a 3×3 basketball championship, and junior/seniorand higher institutions basketball tournament.
He however stated that the achievement of the various programs is dependent on the availability of funds as the involvement of the state government is little felt.
The diaspora representative on the board Kelechi Anuna assured us of the commitment of our diaspora players still active or retired in the activities of the South th East basketball programs this year as they are looking forward to the start of hostilities in various states.
He maintained that the players are willing to be part of the programs as a way of contributing to the growth of the game which they love and adore.
The D’ Tigers player revealed that the players in the diaspora apart from supporting the programs of the various states are also planning for a big basketball jamboree that will see them come back home to give back to the zone that provided a platform.
The South East rep and chairman of the zone on the board of the NBBF Ugo Udezue in his closing remarks decried the inability of the female national basketball team D’ Tigress in representing the nation and the continent at the last world championship due to government interference in, a development he said affected our South Eastern female players who make up 80 percent of the playing personnel of the team.
He expressed happiness over the improve infrastructural development across the states and thanked all those that have made it possible urging them not to relent on their efforts.
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