The Diaspora Care Sports Foundation U17 Basketball League that tipped off on Saturday the 23rd of October 2021 shall come to a conclusion on Saturday the 18th December at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos. Eight basketball academy teams, namely Warriors Basketball Academy, Raptors Basketball, AJ Ravens, River Dragons, Heat Kings, Del Academy Oworo, Ikorodu Commandos, and MacSpencer Academy were involved in the league.
The teams had the opportunity of playing across four venues across the state to display their skill sets and build their fan base across the various basketball communities. The University of Lagos Sports Centre, LASPARK Playground Basketball Court Oworonshoki, Warriors Basketball Court Ilupeju, and the Father Sadiku Memorial School Basketball Court in Ajegunle.
Over the years, these young ones undergo tutelage involving basketball clinics and other skill upgrade programs but with not much opportunity to compete and practice what they have learnt using actual game scenarios. With competitions amongst their peers, they are bound to acquire the necessary experience that would help mould them into better players.
The final play-off games shall pitch the quartet of Raptors, Warriors, AJ Ravens and the River Dragons in a battle for bragging rights. Aside the winning trophy, championship rings shall be presented to the winning team, a tradition adopted from the prestigious American Basketball professional league. American scouts shall attend the play-off games to give scholarship opportunities to deserving players.
The title sponsor of the Play-off games AFA Sports shall be providing kits and other apparels for deserving players. Nigerian international basketball legend Akeem Olajuwon who is also interested in the progress of our kids in basketball has graciously autographed basketballs and merchandise as memorabilia. During the regular season, we shortlisted players of the week and they shall be gifted mobile handsets during the closing ceremony.
The Diaspora Care Sports Foundation is a not for profit organization established in Houston Texas, United States of America but geared towards giving Nigerian children (especially the less privileged) a platform to display their talents in sports. Basketball as a showpiece event provides immense educational, recreational and entertainment values in our society.