Grassroots Basketball Coaches Clinic ends in Gombe with Royal backing

By Amaechi Agbo

The Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA) has received royal backing for its grassroots basketball development initiatives following a one-day coaching clinic held in Gombe State.

The Deputy Chairman, Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs and North-East Coordinator of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, His Royal Highness, Engineer Sale Muhammad Umar, OON, Mai Kaltungo, commended the ABA leadership for bringing basketball academies under one association.

According to Kayode Adeniyi, Head of Media and Publicity ABA, Mai Kaltungo,spoke when he received the ABA board at his palace, said the initiative would help provide effective monitoring of academies while ensuring that coaches and players are exposed to modern rules, regulations and best practices in basketball.

He also called on the ABA to establish a basketball court in Kaltungo, noting that youths in the area have a strong passion for the sport. According to him, developing basketball infrastructure could create employment opportunities for young people and provide an alternative pathway for those seeking opportunities beyond white-collar jobs.

The traditional ruler pledged his support to the association and urged basketball stakeholders to embrace the ABA’s programmes.

Responding, the ABA President and Founder, Deputy Comptroller Aliyu Lucky Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the royal father for receiving the delegation and supporting the use of sports as a tool for youth development, empowerment and nation-building.

He said the visit was an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between traditional institutions and sports development organisations committed to creating opportunities for young Nigerians.

Abubakar explained that basketball development goes beyond teaching technical skills, stressing that the sport also helps young people develop decision-making abilities, teamwork, resilience, discipline and a desire for excellence.

He sought the traditional ruler’s continued encouragement and support as the ABA expands its grassroots basketball development programmes across Gombe State, the North-East and other parts of Nigeria.

The ABA delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Kaltungo Local Government, Hon. Silas Bukar, where the association similarly sought support for its grassroots development initiatives.

Meanwhile, 25 coaches from basketball academies across Gombe State participated in the coaching clinic held at CONCECON Guest House, Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe.

The clinic, themed “Triple Threats,” focused on strengthening coaches’ knowledge and improving their capacity to develop young players.

Addressing participants, Abubakar emphasised the need for coaches to continually improve their knowledge of the game, study modern basketball techniques and remain open to new ideas.

He noted that coaching requires dedication, patience, sacrifice and consistency, adding that young players need coaches who believe in them, encourage them, correct them and remain committed to their development.

Participants were trained on the three areas of the Triple Threat, coach-coach and coach-player relationships, education and basketball, as well as training templates for coaches.

The Head Coach of the Gombe State Basketball Association, Haruna Kabiru, and other guests commended the ABA for organising the clinic, describing coaches as teachers, mentors, leaders, role models, motivators and builders of character.

The participating coaches expressed appreciation to the ABA for the opportunity and pledged to apply the knowledge gained in their respective academies.

The clinic also formed part of preparations for the maiden Amateur Basketball Academies Championship, where state champions and runners-up in both the male and female categories will represent their states at the national championship in Abuja.