Taraba Assembly member rallies support for ABA

… charges coaches to be focused

A member of Taraba State House of Assembly, Honourable Tanko Abubakar Yusuf, has urged basketball stakeholders to support the Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) in their quest to rejuvenate the game of basketball in Nigeria.

Tanko, who also doubled as chairman, Taraba State Basketball Association, stated this while addressing participants during a 2-day coaching clinic with the theme ‘DRIVE ‘, organised by ABA in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

He reminded the participants that Taraba State coaches have what it takes to compete among their colleagues both within and outside Nigeria.

“We know that we have talented coaches, as well as the players, and excellent referees; all we need is to stay focused and be united. We need to seek more knowledge and impact such knowledge on our players,” the lawmaker said.

President/ Founder, Amateur Basketball Academies, Deputy Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Aliyu Lucky Abubakar, in his speech, urged the participants to embrace the new vision of the Association.

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He charged them to let their DRIVE be stronger than their challenges and character greater than their ambition, and their commitment to develop young people beyond their personal recognition.

Abubakar said, “Our theme ‘DRIVE’ represents five essential qualities that every successful basketball coach must possess: diligence, respect, inspiration, value and education. Through these, we can build a new generation of coaches capable of taking grassroots basketball in Nigeria to greater heights.

“As coaches, we are teachers, mentors, leaders, role models, and guardians of the dreams of young athletes. Our responsibility goes beyond the basketball court. We are helping to shape the future of Nigerian basketball and, more importantly, the future of our young people.”

Chairman, Taraba State Sports Development Commission, Coach Bulus Hussaini, who declared the clinic open, asked the coaches to take the opportunity provided by the training to change the game of basketball in Taraba State. He promised State government support and assistance when needed.

Twenty-five academy coaches took part in the clinic and received lectures on topics like “Who is a Coach?”, Coaching Ethics, “Players/Coaches Relationship”, “Player’s Development”, among others.