By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos.
Organisers of the annual Nestle Milo Giants of Africa Top 50 basketball camp has commended the recent successes recorded over the years in the clinic even as they promise they will continue to use it to develop basketball in the continent.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the project , Masai Ujiri, the 13th edition of the camp which kicked off at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos will be used to impact the basic principles of the slamming and dunking game to the youths.
“We are encouraged by the successes recorded since the commencement of the camp thirteen years ago and will continue to improve on that to ensure we develop basketball in the entire African continent”.
“It was because of this success and encouragement that made us expand the camp to six African countries namely; Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana and Senegal and also ensure we bring in good coaches to teach the youths the basic principles of the game”, explained the Toronto Raptors General Manager.
Masai who is the first African General Manager of an NBA team as well as Director of Basketball without boarders, while commending Nestle Milo for its consistent partnership with the organisers expressed gratitude to the coaches for their commitment and excellent understanding of the rules of the game.
Category Manager of Nestle, Bola Audu noted that the positive impact which the programme had on the participants encouraged the company to be part of the clinic noting that they are happy to partner with the organisers.
Earlier the President of FIBA Zone 3 Africa and proprietor of Dodan Warriors Basket ball Club Col. Sam Amedu (Rtd), also join in commending Ujiri for his foresight and consistency in organizing the camp just as he commended Nestle Milo for its consistency and steadfastness in supporting the programme.
Modeled after the NBA’s ‘Basketball Without Borders’ initiative, ‘Giants of Africa’ holds two types of annual camps – Top 50 Camp and Big Man Camp.
The Top 50 Camp focuses on the top 50 kids from across the country and provides participants with three intense days of instruction.
The Big Man Camp teaches young athletes who are 6-foot-8 and above the basic fundamentals of the game with a focus on running, catching, footwork and shooting.
