Sports
GBADE Olatana, the proprietor of Youth Alive Basketball Academy, on Thursday said he was proud of the success of the Youth Alive Basketball league, which had produced many talents since it started in 2013.
Olatona said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, adding that the products of the league had achieved varying degrees of success at local and international scenes.
He said most notable was Charles Bassey who currently plied his trade in the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA) for San Antonio Spurs.
He said he was proud of Bassey’s achievement, having developed through the Youth Alive Basketball League system.
He also said Bassey, who had visited Nigeria once after he became a superstar, would come back to the country and invest in youth development projects.
“We can assure everyone that Bassey would be investing in youth games, he developed through the Youth Alive League and and would definitely love to give back.
“As the proprietor of the league I am proud to have one of our ambassadors playing top flight basketball in the U.S.
“He once visited Nigeria in July with a massive convoy of cars/security that made it look like the Executive Governor of Lagos State was around.
“He promised to be back and would donate massively to the development of the youth league, and as we round up the year we hope to hear from him to fulfil his promise,” Olatona said.
According to the proprietor, many other young stars like Okiki Michael, Odufuwa Koinsola, Daramola Michael, Victor Eze, Ifunaiya Okoye and Elizabeth Balogun, have represented Nigeria at the international scene.
Olatona said many of the players were discovered and nurtured at the Basketball Academy, but went on to play for the Nigerian National Teams (D’Tigers and D’Tigresses).
He added that many other budding stars were playing for clubs in the domestic league. (NAN)
A.
-Nov. 30, 2023 @ 13:55 GMT |
Tags: Charles Bassey Daramola Michael Elizabeth Balogun Gbade Olatana Ifunaiya Okoye Odufuwa Koinsola Okiki Michael Victor Eze Youth Alive Basketball Academy
