Oyo state men’s team and the Delta States’ women’s team have emerged the champions at the 2023 BetKing 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball National Championships in the event played at the outdoor Sports Hall of the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
In the grand finale played at the weekend, the Oyo state team defeated Lagos state 10-1 to lift the trophy in the men’s category, while the Delta state team defeated Oyo state women’s team 3-2 to win the women’s category.
Osun state pulled back from three points behind to beat Abuja 7-5 to grab the third place in the men’s category, while Imo State defeated Kwara State 5-1 to settle for third position in the women’s category.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, president of Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Seyi Johnson, said the championship was an opportunity for the players to emerge the country’s representative at the African Para Games in Ghana next September.
He noted that, the current board of the federation is working hard to ensure the country returns to its rightful place in the African continent.
Johnshon said the current board is determined to leave a legacy in wheelchair basketball at the end of their tenure. Stressing that the journey has been tedious, but they are optimistic of making a mark.
“We are prepared to engage wheelchair basketball teams in regular competitions across Nigeria to get the sport back to where it was some seven eight years ago when Chief Bukola Olopade was president of the federation.
“We determined to revive wheelchair basketball in Nigeria such that the players and the various teams across the country are proud again.
“The popular saying that impossibility is nothing, is my watchword and I got the philosophy from my boss, Hon Olopade, the past president of the federation.
“My boss tells my regularly that, when people say there is no way, the best bet is to create a part.
“For me, I think I am creating a way in wheelchair basketball.”
Johnson noted that ahead of the African Para Games in Ghana, the national coaches have been busy scouting for talented players.
“After two weeks of rest, the players will resume camping for the African championship to ensure proper preparations, as our dream is to perform excellently in Para Games and qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics,”he added.
“We have identified our weak links and would work on them before the African Para Games.”
At the grand finale of the Betking 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Abeokuta, winners in both the men’s and women’s categories, Oyo and Delta states, went home with a cash prize of N500, 000.
The second placed teams, Lagos in the men’s and Oyo in the Women’s, pocketed a cash prize of N300,000, while third placed teams, Osun, in the Men’s and Imo, in the Women’s, went home with N200,000.
