By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Dec. 23, 2022 (NAN) No fewer than 35 players are set to embark on further training and study abroad, courtesy of Ejike Ugboaja Foundation (EUF).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 100 participants took part in the 2022 edition of the Annual EUF talent hunt Basketball and American football open trials from Wednesday to Friday in Abuja.
The three-day event which took place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, showcased basketball and American football talents from across the 36 states of the federation and FCT.
Ejike Ugboaja, the President of EUF told NAN that the players selected from the event would enjoy scholarship and placement in American Universities where they would have the opportunity to further their career to greater heights.
Ugboaja who played for the D’Tigers and was also drafted with the Cleveland Caveliers in the NBA noted that the annual event was in its 15th edition.
“This is my annual event and the EUF have been doing this since 2007, that’s about 15 years now. This is the 2022 edition and we are here to fish out basketball and American football talents again.
“Every year, we try to give out scholarship to these young talents to go play basketball abroad.
“So, about 15 basketball and 20 American football talents will be going this year to study in U.S.; some of them will be going to high school, while others will be going to the university.
“We have over 100 basketball and American football talents here and we are selecting no fewer than 35 out of the bunch to give them a better life. That’s my aim of doing this,” he said.
He revealed that over 2,000 Nigerians who are beneficiaries of the Foundation were presently schooling abroad, saying that some had obtained their masters, while others had acquired their doctorate degrees.
He added that some were now professionals abroad, while some have come back to represent the country in international competitions.
The Ex-International noted that the game of basketball had been suffering alot at the grassroots in the country, adding that it was very unfortunate and frustrating talking about it.
“Those are the helm of affairs really need to wake up and do better for the game in the country as the game has suffered alot at the grassroots.
“Our leaders have got to get their acts right from the Minister of Sports to every other stakeholder in the game.
“So many young talents abound in this country and they need to be engaged positively so as for them not to constitute a nuisance on our streets.
“They need to be given the best opportunity out there so as to maximise their potentials.
“For me, I was just like one of these kids at the grassroots and was lucky to represent Nigeria at the highest level, both for the National team as well as representing the country at the Olympics.
“It wasn’t an easy run I must say, but back in the days the opportunities were there, unlike now and that’s why people like me could play for the country for such a long time.
“So, I wish that going forward we can have the right people who will tell us the truth and do the right thing for the good of the game at the grassroots,” he said.
On his drive and passion of fishing out young talents in the country to play American football abroad he said he chose to embark on the project because he realised the game was made for Nigerians.
“I’ve found out that in the U.S. a whole lot of Nigerians are playing American football. I am in touch with the likes of Osi Umenyiora who played for the New York Giants as well as some other Nigerians playing in the National Football League (NFL).
“So, my drive is not only to discover and take these young talents abroad to play but also to introduce the game in Nigeria and Africa.
“American football is an sport and comes naturally easy with us Nigerians. They call it American football, but it’s basically Nigerian football because we are naturally strong and built for the sport.
“If you take 10 Nigerians abroad to play American football, honestly 10 of them will make it. Just imagine last year, the three Nigerians that went for trials are already playing professionally in the NFL and making alot of money as we speak.
“Another Nigerian, Chijioke Okoye just got his visa and is leaving for the U.S. this year to play in the NFL.
“So, this is a project we want to invest alot of our energy and resources in now to ensure the youths in this country benefit and become good ambassadors for us abroad,” he said.
He said he also had plans to introduce the game in the country and bring in alot of professionals from abroad who will put the youths through the basic training as well as tactical part of the game.
“It’s a physical as well as technical game and needs the right people to do the job of training our boys properly,” he said.
Michael Akubo, the Lead Coach for the EUF basketball camp stressed that the event was basically about talent identification and player’s development.
“We identify talents, develop them through skill acquisition programmes and the basic fundamentals of the game.
“We have discovered quite a number of them who are good with alot of potentials and just require a little bit of exposure as well as coaching and training,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
