Okene LGA wins 10th Ajanah Basketball Tournament

The annual Ajanah Inter-Local Government Basketball Tournament in Kogi ended in grand on Saturday with Team Okene Local Government Area (LGA) defeating Team Okehi (LGA) to win the main trophy.

Okene beat Okehi 69-65 points in a keenly contested final match, played at the Okene Club in Okene.

Earlier, the thirdplace match which was between Adavi and Kogi LGAs was won by the Adavi side which won 59-55.

Okene, Okehi and Adavi received cash prizes of N200,000, N150,000 and N100,000 respectively, as well as trophies.

Trophies were also given to players and teams for various awards, such as Fair Play, Most Improved Team, Best Rebounder and Highest Scorer.

David Edward of Team Okene, who won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and emerged the tournament’s 3-point shooting champion, later said that he felt great about the two awards.

“It is God that has done it for me,” he said.

An ex-international basketballer, Olumide Oyedeji, who is a consultant to the event, said the initiative was a great one putting smiles on the faces of the young ones.

“It is helping to take them off the streets,” the former captain of the D’Tigers said.

Oyedeji, who is a member of the Tijani Umar-led faction of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board, disclosed that through the tournament many players have represented Nigeria outside the country.

Justice Jimoh Usman, the Chairman of the Organising Committee (LOC), said in an interview that the tournament has contributed immensely to the development of the youths in Kogi and Nigeria at large. (NAN)