Follow Us on Google
Six players have secured automatic scholarships as the 5th Ajayi Elebire Elite Basketball Camp wrapped up last weekend with an all-star game at the Ekitikete Pavilion in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The four-day camp opened with a Lagos tryout. More than 40 players from across the country were then selected to compete for honours and one of the available scholarships. Top coaches from Nigeria and the USA taught the players the fundamentals of basketball.
The scholarship recipients are Ejirinade Neuman, Igwe Ikechukwu, Muiz Salami, Felix Jackson, Destiny Eze and Lucky Anyaorah.
Ekiti State Police Commissioner Michael Falade applauded the organisers.
The Ekiti CP, who attended the final day, praised the organisers, saying they had done enough to keep some youths off the streets.
“If you look at the rate of people that are involved in crime, they are youths, and for engaging them in this sport like this, at least you have taken them off the streets,” he said.
“And when somebody is engaged, you can never do otherwise; you have to do the right thing. Secondly, this is providing work because when you have the foundation, then there is no way you can miss it.”
Speaking also, foreign coach Scott Adubato, a former coach of organiser Olalekan Ajayi, described the camp as a great opportunity for talented players to prepare and improve their game.
Adubato said he and the other coaches worked hard with the players, adding that Ajayi had made it all possible by creating the opportunity.
He added: “The players were prepared every day. We worked on the training. We did everything we needed to teach them different principles of the game. They were very receptive.
They played hard to the last game. And I think they earned everything that they earned, especially the MVP and the All-Star players. So, a thumbs up to the organisers.”
Thanking everyone for their support and the opportunity, former international Olalekan Ajayi said the camp was held in honour of his father, Ajayi Elebire. He described his own journey as one of fate, noting that he had been discovered at a similar camp years ago.
Ajayi thanked God for the opportunity and added: “Every year we come here, we impact the lives of these Nigerian kids. We have, you know, a lot of talented players; we have five scholarships guaranteed. The sky is the limit. And this is a record call. The NBBF refused to do what they’re supposed to do to get the house in order and do what is good for Nigerians.
“People like the rest of them and me, we’re going to keep coming from America and get these players out of this country. To give them an opportunity that they refuse to provide for them.”
