NGR - Ivy league All Stars depart for Poland, for international invitational

LAGOS (Int'l School Tourney) - A selection of the best players of the Ivy Basketball League for private Secondary School in Lagos State and its environ will jet out of the country Tuesday for Poland aboard an Air Turkey flight via the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The AKOFA selected are billed to take part of an international annual competition, designed for teenagers, tagged The T.S. Basket Gniezno and holds in the Polish city of Gniezno from Friday through the weekend.

The leader of the Nigerian delegation and Chief Executive Officer of AKOFA Sports John Abimbola Faniran said the competition would help develop the country’s budding talent for the future.

"It’s the first outing for the stars of the Ivy League and we hope it will form an opening for future international engagements. Our desire in starting the Ivy League is to have a platform for young basketball to develop their talents. This international dimension will give these players the opportunity to gain valuable exposure for the future," Faniran said as the players round up their training last weekend at the University of Lagos Sports Complex.

The Ivy League has been played annually for the past eight years by private secondary schools in and around Lagos. The players are drawn from Ronik Comprehensive College, Ejigbo, Vivian Fowler, UNILAG International School, Whitesand, Dowen College, Grange College and Supreme Foundation Schools.

The delegation made up of 54 persons comprises of three teams and accompanying officials. The three teams are of two boys and a female team. The ladies will feature in the U-17 event like the senior boys while the other male team features in the Under-15 championship.

The competition is attracting players from other European countries. And like the Nigerian squads their representatives are selected as all star teams from similar leagues and competitions for secondary schools.

By: Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA Official Correspondent in Nigeria