Ex-Junior International and founder of Ready Leaders Foundation, Onome Akinbode- James has stressed the need for Nigeria Basketball Federation to focus on grassroots development across the country for discovery of talented players for the national teams
Onome who is based in the United States, made the call in an interview with sportswriters from the sidelines of the recently concluded three-day basketball camping organized by Ready Leaders Foundation at the Alake Sports Complex in Ijeja, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital
A member of the Nigeria's under-16 silver winning squad at the 2016 FIBA- Afro Basketball Championship, expressed satisfaction with the standard of coaching by the top female basketball coaches who participated across the country and quality of skills displayed by the young girls during the camping programme, saying the future of female basketball is in good hands
"The future of female basketball is in good hands, hope the federation will start to look at grassroots development of basketball in Nigeria. There are a lot of skillful players being discovered here and we will like them to showcase their skills at the global level through the national teams," she stated
The highly excited Onome who played at Duke University in the US, revealed that the aims and objectives of the foundation was to use the basketball skills and seminars to develop leadership skills in girls for a brighter future in the game and country
She expressed the readiness of the foundation to extend the leadership skills beyond sports to technology, equipping girls with the needed technical skills to drive technology
"We will like the basketball camping to be a continuous exercise, our goal at Ready Leaders Foundation,is to extend beyond sporting events to technical skills in technology. We hope to continue with the programme through out the year working with the coaches because three days is enough for the girls to learn new skills
The three-day basketball camping, saw the girls being exposed to various basketball skills by top female basketball coaches across the country
The skills included one-on-one challenge, one-on-three challenge, three-point throw, how to use the longball control and score points amongst others
Similarly Veteran former national team basketball coach and icon in the game, Chief Alabi Adelanwa was full of praises for Onome Akinbode- James, calling on other wealthy individuals to emulate her in complimenting the efforts of government at developing the game of basketball in the country
"We need this kind of initiative for the growth of female basketball in Nigeria, bringing the girls together for this kind of a clinic, the sky is the limit for the future of female basketball in the country. We have the material, the talented girls and everything you can think of to make the game greater in the country. I'm happy this happening during my lifetime".
" I want this to be replicated across the country to enhance the growth of the game in Nigeria, basketball is moving globally and we must as a country move with the better side of basketball . I want corporate organizations to support and encourage Onome to do more for the development of basketball in Nigeria ", he prayed
The three-day basketball camping also featured a number of test games and skills competitions among over 40 players that participated in the programme across the country
Dignatries at the event, included former Director of Sports at the Ogun State Council, Mrs Iyabode Rotimi , top administrators and coaches across the country
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