SPORTS
Baker Calls for more Technical Basketball Academies in Nigeria
Ganon Baker, an international high-performer basketball trainer has called for more technical basketball academies in Nigeria to raise the standard of the game.
Baker made the call on Monday in Abuja at a week-long training clinic for Nigerian coaches and players organised by Sports Renaissance Africa Partners (SRAP).
The renowned U.
S certified coach with over 30 decades of experience in the game, stressed the need for technical and systematic coaching to nurture the abundant basketball talents in the country.He said his visit to Nigeria was to teach kids, players and coaches the rudiments of the game and how to win basketball championships.
” I see a lot of talents in Nigeria but they are unpolished, they are inexperienced, they are not secure, unbelievable talents, but it comes down to coaches, to nurture them that is why we are here.
“If you have good coaches, you are going to have good players, if you don’t have good players may be coaches don’t give them enough information.
“My experience with African players is that they’re very humble and hungry to win,” he said.
Baker said with proper coaching and exposure, a lot more Nigerian players can make it to the U.S National Basketball Association (NBA).
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of SRAP, Relindis Mbu said the clinic is aimed at leveraging on the wealth of tactical experience of Baker to help develop young talents and Coaches in Nigeria.
“The real goal of our project is to give tactical training to coaches so they can transfer it and build eco system of basketball in the world, Africa and Nigeria.
“The end goal is technical expertise that will bring our athletes to international standard so that they can excel locally and internationally in any where they are.” she said.
Baker is one of the most respected premier basketball skill coaches in the World, he is renowned with working with the NBA, WNBA, CBA, Euro League, NCAA, NJCAA, U Sports among others.(NAN)
SPORTS
Chelsea Place £120m Price Tag on Star Midfielder
Enzo Fernandez wants to leave Chelsea after they failed to qualify for Europe, but the club will ask for £120m for the Argentina midfielder.
The 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for £107m, is under contract until 2032, which is reflected in the potential fee.
The World Cup winner remains part of the club’s planning for next season, but Chelsea would consider offers that meet their valuation.
After scoring 15 goals and providing seven assists last season, Fernandez finished runner-up in Chelsea’s player of the season award.
Javier Pastore, Fernandez’s agent, is exploring potential destinations, notably his preferred option of Real Madrid.
Alternatives include Manchester City – who are expected to appoint former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor in the coming days – but their priority is signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
Meanwhile, French club Paris St-Germain have downplayed the likelihood of a transfer despite having been linked with a move.
Real are known to be unwilling to pay Chelsea’s asking price unless they are able to raise significant funds in player sales, having also been linked with a move for Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
Senior figures at Stamford Bridge accept they will need to invest in established, Premier League-ready talent for new manager Xabi Alonso after a disappointing season in which Chelsea finished 10th and without a trophy.
SPORTS
Africa Gets 14 Olympic Slots in Boxing
Africa has been allocated only 14 direct qualification spots for the boxing event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a reduction from the 18 slots the continent received ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.
The allocation, confirmed by the International Olympic Committee and World Boxing, gives Africa and Oceania one quota spot each per weight category, while Asia, Europe and Pan-America receive two spots per weight class per gender.
The 14 weight categories are split equally between men and women. The women’s classes are 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg and 75kg, while men will compete at 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg, 90kg and above 90kg.
African boxers will have multiple opportunities to secure qualification across four phases. The 2027 World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, scheduled for April 2027, will be the first qualifying event, offering 44 spots in total.
Semi-finalists in the first four Olympic weight categories for both men and women will earn quotas, while only finalists will secure spots in the remaining categories.
Following the World Championships, each continent will hold its own qualifier. Africa’s continental qualifier will offer one spot per weight class.
A further 46 spots will be available at the first World Qualifier, while a second World Qualifier will serve as the final opportunity, offering between 28 and 36 places depending on how many host country spots the United States has already secured.
The host nation, the United States, is guaranteed a maximum of six quota places, three per gender, with any already earned through other routes deducted from that total.
Eight universality spots, four per gender, will also be available for eligible nations, though the nominated boxer must have participated in at least one of the listed qualification tournaments. Athletes must have been born between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 2009, to be eligible.
At Paris 2024, Africa sent 22 boxers to compete after a last-minute withdrawal and a doping exclusion reduced what was initially a group of 24. Algeria led the contingent with five athletes, while Morocco and Egypt had three each.
SPORTS
Unity Cup: Yusuf, Ogbu Hit Super Eagles London Camp
Alhassan Yusuf, and Igoh Ogbuh have arrived at the Super Eagles camp in London for the Unity Cup invitational tournament.
Yusuf, a midfielder and centre-back Ogbu breezed into the team’s camp on Monday morning.
The duo’s arrival increased the number of players in camp to 19, with the remaining players expected in camp today.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Samson Tijani, Ebenezer Akinsamiro, Akor Adams, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Raphael Onyedika are among the players yet to arrive in camp.
The Super Eagles opened camp for the invitational tournament last Saturday with 14 players before Chibuike Nwaiwu, Francis Uzoho and Rafiu Durosinmi joined the squad on Sunday.
The team will continue preparations for the encounter against Zimbabwe with another training session tonight at Cray Valley FC, Middle Park Avenue, London.
The official training session will start at 4pm.
Head coach Éric Chelle and goalkeeper Uzoho will address the media on Monday morning ahead of the clash with the Warriors of Zimbabwe.
The interactive session will hold at the Charlton Athletic Stadium.
The Super Eagles will kick off the defence of their title against Zimbabwe on Tuesday at The Valley, the home ground of Sky Bet Championship side Charlton Athletic.
Reggae Boys of Jamaica and India will clash in the second semi-final at the same venue on Wednesday.
The Valley will also host the final of the invitational tournament on Saturday 30 May.
Players in Camp:
Junior Ayobami, Al Ameen Tijani, Michael Atata, Adeoye Aderemi, Oputa Chibueze, Ighoke Obinna, Ocholi Elias, Oyedokun Tosin, Philip Otele, Arthur Okonkwo, Femi Azeez, Owen Oseni, Nnadi Tochukwu, Terem Moffi, Francis Uzoho, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Rafiu Durosinmi, Igoh Ogbuh and Alhassan Yusuf


