Kano State Basketball Association has organised a three-month Community Basketball Tournament involving 16 teams from across the state to propagate the sport.
This new tournament called Hotcoal basketball fills a longstanding gap in regular sports competitions in Kano and it is seen as an opportunity for young players to engage in consistent competitive play.
19-year-old Dayo Johnson who attends Ado Bayero square basketball club admits that before now he was discouraged by consistent training without opportunities to compete.
The monthly Hotcoal basketball tourney is expected to foster community spirit among the youth, especially during these challenging times, says 21 year old Usman Musa who plays with Bukavu Blinks basketball club.
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Meanwhile, in the final game of August, NTM Thunder narrowly defeated Paki Warriors 47-46 in a thrilling match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
This victory secured NTM Thunder’s position as the top team for the month, followed by Paki Warriors in second place, and Ahmadiyya basketball club in third.
The tournament has also highlighted standout players, such as Tunde Bello of Ahmadiyya basketball club who was recognized as the best three-point shooter, and Abdulwahab Usman of NTM Thunder, who was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Jibrin Muhammad of NTM Thunder was awarded the best rebounder.
Coach Wilson Idanwekhai, the tournament coordinator, has said the event, along with the Kano State Basketball League, offered four young players a chance to get noticed as they were invited to the Kano Pillars basketball team.
Also, the Head Coach of Kano Pillars Basketball Club, Scot Nnaji, praised the tournament as a step towards returning the lost glory of Kano in the sport.
The next phase of the competition will feature another set of 6 teams in the month of September.
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