PORT HARCOURT (Basketball camp) - American basketball legend, Nate ‘Tiny’ Achibald is to lead 11 other top coaches from America and Europe to this year’s Royal Hoopers Basketball Elite Camp holding in Nigeria’s Garden City of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State this July.
This was confirmed by the initiator of the programme and proprietor of the Royal Hoopers Basketball Club, Syndoph Endoni in a telephone chat with FIBA correspondent. The elite camp which is the second in the series is aimed at providing Nigerian youth with the latest techniques of the game and as well give them life skills that would be of benefit to them after basketball.
“The camp is growing in leaps and bounds and it is a thing to be proud of given the talents that abound in Nigeria in sports and particularly basketball,” Syndoph said.
The other foreign coaches for the camp which will run from July 21-24 include Alex Nwora - Head Coach Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York and Founder Global Sports Advantage USA; Jackie Knowles – Coach, USA; Tyrone M. Duren – Coach, USA; Myke Scholl, Assistant Coach Loyola Marymount University, USA and Josh Bland who is the Associate Head Coach University of Bridgeport.
Making up the list of coaches are Ernest Browne - Coach (USA); Cecil Sievers (USA); former Nigerian internationals Godwin Owinje, Obinna Ekezie, Osita Nwachukwu and Tunji Awojobi.
Aside the foreign legion of coaches, eight Nigerian coaches have also been invited to work with the campers and the list includes Adeka Daudu of Dodan Warriors Basketball Programme, Lagos who will serve as the Coaches Coordinator; Peter Ahmedu, Head Coach, Dodan Warriors Basketball Programme; Mike Akuboh, Assistant Coach, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Emmanuel Odah, Head Coach, Zuma Rocks/Premier Basketball Foundation, Abuja; Zikala Angbare - Head Coach, Bayelsa State Basketball Association. Others are Fubara Onyenabo, Coach, Royal Hoopers Basketball Club, Port Harcourt; Musa Adamu of Elpizo Basketball Academy, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and Mohammed Abah of Customs Basketball Club.
Syndoph Endoni (Royal Hoopers), Sam Ahmedu of Dodan Warriors Basketball Programme and Alex Nwora camp directors.
By Pius Ayinor, FIBA Africa