By Victor Okoye
A member of the Taraba House of Assembly, Tanko Yusuf, has urged basketball coaches to unite and support grassroots development of the sport.
A statement by Kayode Adeniyi, Head of Media and Public Relations, Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA), said Tanko made the call during a two-day coaching clinic in Jalingo.
Tanko, who is also Chairman, Taraba Basketball Association, said Taraba had talented coaches, players and referees capable of competing favourably with their counterparts within and outside Nigeria.
“We know that we have talented coaches, players and excellent referees, but we must remain focused, united and committed to continuous learning,” Tanko said.
He urged coaches to embrace modern coaching methods, share knowledge and create opportunities for young players to develop their skills and achieve their potential.
According to him, unity among stakeholders was critical to rebuilding basketball from the grassroots and positioning Taraba as a major basketball hub in Nigeria.
Tanko commended ABA for bringing the coaching clinic to Taraba, describing the initiative as timely and important to developing coaches and young basketball players.
“I encourage other stakeholders to support ABA’s vision because sustainable basketball development requires collective efforts, proper training and consistent investment in coaches and players,” he said.
He urged coaches to effectively use the knowledge gained from the clinic and transfer it to players at the grassroots.
The President and Founder of ABA, Deputy Comptroller Aliyu Abubakar of the Nigeria Customs Service, urged participants to embrace the association’s new vision.
Abubakar said the theme of the clinic, “DRIVE,” represented five qualities essential for every successful basketball coach: diligence, respect, inspiration, value and education.
“Through these qualities, we can build a new generation of coaches capable of taking grassroots basketball in Nigeria to greater heights,” he said.
Abubakar urged coaches to ensure that their determination remained stronger than their challenges and their character greater than their ambition.
He said coaches should remain committed to developing young people beyond personal recognition, stressing that their responsibilities extended beyond the basketball court.
“As coaches, we are teachers, mentors, leaders, role models and guardians of the dreams of young athletes,” Abubakar said.
He added that coaches were helping to shape the future of Nigerian basketball and, more importantly, the future of young Nigerians.
Declaring the clinic open, Chairman, Taraba State Sports Development Commission, Coach Bulus Hussaini, urged participants to use the training to transform basketball development in the state.
Hussaini pledged the state government’s support and assistance to basketball stakeholders whenever necessary.
Twenty-five coaches from basketball academies are participating in the clinic, where they will receive lectures on coaching ethics, player development and coach-player relationships.
Other topics include “Who is a Coach?” and other areas designed to strengthen coaching capacity and improve grassroots basketball development.
The clinic is expected to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills needed to nurture young talents and promote sustainable basketball development in Taraba.(NAN)
Edited by Joseph Edeh