Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Secretary, South-East Basketball Association, Osondu Ngwude, has said that the Oriental Classic South-East Basketball Competition billed to kick off in Enugu on Saturday will be an annual event.
Ngwude said this in Enugu while speaking to newsmen on the tournament, adding that the competition would run from Saturday June 17 till June 21.
According to him, the five eastern states have been penciled down to participate in the competition which will be the first edition with their male and female teams.
He disclosed that the competition was being hosted by Enugu State Basketball Association in conjunction with the South-East Basketball Board and sponsored by AFA Sports, VOE Foundation, Nigeria Basketball Association among others.
Ngwude said the competition will kick off proper on Sunday and run till Tuesday while the teams will depart the state on Wednesday.
He said that the competition will go round the five states before this year runs out to help keep the youths out of the streets and to expose them to the wider world.
“As Enugu is hosting, Anambra will be getting prepared the same thing applies to Imo, Ebonyi and Abia,” Ngwude said.
Also speaking, Coach Chidozie Nwoye of Miners Basketball said that the event was been sponsored by the South-East Board and hosted by the Enugu State Basketball Association (ESBA)
“Five states will participate and it is going to be a round robin game in which all the teams will play each other,” he said.
Nwoye noted that the game will help his team to be in a competitive mode for the Basketball League and to help them parfect their tactics.