Team Okene Local Government Area (LGA) defeated Team Okehi LGA 69-65 points in a keenly contested final match, played at the Okene Club in Okene to emerge champion of the 10th Ajanah Basketball Tournament.
Earlier, former champions, Kogi LGA lost their third place match to Team Adavi 55-59
Okene, Okehi and Adavi received cash prizes of N200’000.00, N150’000.00 and N100’000.00 respectively, as well as trophies. Trophies were also given to players and teams for various awards, such as Fair Play, Most Improved Team, Highest Scorer and Best Rebounder.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the tournament’s 3-point shooting champion went the way of David Edward of Team Okene.
Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) ambassador, Olumide Oyedeji, who is a consultant to the event, said the initiative was a great one putting smiles on the faces of the young ones. “It is helping to take them off the streets,’’ the former captain of the D’Tigers said.
Oyedeji, who is a member of the Tijani Umar-led faction of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board, disclosed that through the tournament many players have represented Nigeria outside the country.
He added that some of the exposed players were representing the country in national and international leagues. “It is a good initiative, taking the youths off the streets and sowing something into their lives. So far so good, everything has been well and it can only get better and bigger than what it is right now,” Oyedeji said.
The basketball event is organised annually among the 21 LGAs of Kogi State, but this year only 12 LGAs were able to organise themselves to participate in the event.
The Chief Judge of Kogi state, Justice Nasir Ajanah has been the sole sponsor of the competition for the past 10 years.
