The South-East Representative on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Ugo Udezue, will commission a newly built basketball court in Abakaliki and host a three-day South-East Basketball Tournament in Ebonyi State from June 5 to 7.
Udezue, who also serves as CEO of AFA Sports, said the initiative is part of a broader push to drive grassroots basketball development and youth empowerment across the South-East region.
“Ebonyi State had no viable basketball court in the whole state, but the state is producing a lot of players,” Udezue said on Monday. “Half of the Coal City Blazers are from Ebonyi.”
The Coal City Blazers are the only Premier League basketball team in the South-East.
Udezue called on stakeholders to take greater responsibility for sports infrastructure rather than leaving it entirely to the government. “We cannot keep putting the burden on the government. As stakeholders, in addition to creating an enabling environment, we must commit to sports infrastructure, especially in the South-East, where football is the dominant sport,” he said, adding that his organisation had also donated uprights for the indoor stadium in Enugu.
The tournament will be held at the Ebonyi Shopping Mall in Abakaliki, with teams from all five South-East states — Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, and Abia — expected to participate.
A major highlight of the event will be the official commissioning of the Hon. Richard Idike Basketball Court, the facility facilitated by Udezue to support talent discovery and basketball development in the state. The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Richard Idike, is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour and will formally inaugurate the court during the tournament.
Udezue said the event is expected to draw basketball stakeholders, coaches, administrators, and fans from across the region.
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