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Organisers of a grassroots basketball development camp have praised the enthusiasm and discipline of participants, particularly female athletes, at this year’s programme, with coordinator Shola Ogunade Shomala emphasizing the camp’s growing impact.
Shomala revealed that the commitment of the campers was evident from the opening day, as participants arrived as early as 7:00 a.m. to collect their gear ahead of the 9:00 a.m. start.
“The campers were very excited being part of this year’s edition. We could tell from day one. Campers were all on ground by 7 a.m. to get their gears, and the program kicked off by 9 a.m. Even under the very hot weather, they exhibited resilience in all the drills,” she said.
In a deliberate move to address gender imbalance in grassroots basketball, the camp placed strong emphasis on female participation, giving young girls a platform to develop their skills.
“Over the years, we’ve seen that female basketball players have been pushed aside when it comes to camps, so we decided to switch things up by giving our girls the opportunity to express themselves and improve in their game,” Shomala stated.
The response from participants, according to her, has been overwhelmingly positive, with the players showing discipline and willingness to learn.
“The response has been very encouraging. The girls were coachable and very cooperative with the coaches and staff. The energy drive was very positive,” she added.
Reaffirming the vision behind the initiative, Shomala stressed the importance of empowering young girls through sports.
“Our slogan remains ‘Girls Got Game.’ We believe in the girl child. We know if they get a push, they can turn things around positively. We can tell from the performance of our D’Tigress and female athletes all over the world.”
She also commended the contributions of coaches, staff, and stakeholders who have supported the programme.
“So far, so good. We’ve got the support of our well-selected coaches and staff who have been giving their all to make sure the girls get the best of coaching and mentoring. We also appreciate the support of basketball veterans, parents, and academies who entrusted us with their children.”
The camp continues to build momentum as a platform for nurturing the next generation of female basketball talents, reinforcing its mission to bridge the gap in opportunities within the sport.
