South-East Basketball getting a new life with court and championships

By Pius Ayinor

Basketball in the South East has continued to show growth and development with every passing month in the last few years.

It was indeed a full weekend of activities from June 5 to 7, 2026, for many young basketballers scattered across the South East region of Nigeria. There is something ironic about this part of the country when it comes to the game of basketball.

At best, the East had always served as a good scouting place for players, but without major clubs and events, the outlook is changing with visible programmes that have aligned them with the other sections of the country.

Ugo Udezue, who represents the region on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, is pushing hard to create activities that can produce young players and truly qualified coaches over the years. Udezue returned from the USA to set up the African Basketball League, which successfully ran on the continent. The ABL, later known as the Continental Basketball League, is truly the blueprint for whatever league is being played on the continent currently. The idea was to give the Africa-based professional basketballers greater opportunities.

The drive now is to give the South East a breath of life.

Through the weekend of June 5, Ebonyi State took a significant step in its sports development drive as it hosted the maiden South-East Regional Basketball Championship, hailed as a landmark event for youth empowerment and talent discovery. One of the major highlights of this basketball fiesta is the commissioning of a new basketball court built and donated by Ugo Udezue.

Speaking at the event on behalf of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Richard Idike, said the competition marked the first time Ebonyi was hosting a regional basketball tournament of such magnitude.

A major highlight of the event was the commissioning of the newly constructed Hon. Richard Idike Basketball Court.

Idike praised the NBBF President, Engr. Musa Kida for his contributions to the development of the game in Nigeria, and also commended the South-East representative on the NBBF board, Udezue, for his role in bringing the tournament and the new basketball facility to fruition.

He noted that, “The championship goes beyond competition, providing a platform for regional integration, friendship, and the discovery of future stars capable of representing Nigeria.

Coach Kingsley Auchu (popularly known as Coach Saucer) believes a good court is what the young players in the Abakaliki area lack.

“This is a welcome development. For a very long time, we didn’t have anything (the basketball court) like this. This is very good for our programmes, and this should help us go global.”

But even as the people of Ebonyi celebrate growth coming with facilities, training schedules, and Enugu eventually hosting the NBBF’s Men’s Premier League, not everyone agrees that the new court or programmes would make any impact in the lives of the locals.

“Which impact, which new court?” Victor Okoro, the Abia State Basketball Association Chairman and a member of the national board, queries.

“I don’t think this thing can make any impact. I have been reading about a new court in Abakaliki, but I don’t know where this court is. There’s no new court; it is propaganda. What he (Ugo Udezue) did was to paint a portion of the old extended car park at the shopping complex. He only renovated the place.”

Okoro, who admitted that he had not personally seen the court, said he believed the reports he got.

“People from there called me to inform me of what was going on.

“My concern is getting the President (Musa Kida of the NBBF) deceived that you have built a real court and mixing his name with this kind of thing.”

And not far away from Abia, just across to Imo State, a former Chairman of the state’s basketball association, Kelechi Anosike, spoke about the new court.

He said, “There’s no new court in Abakaliki.”

He promised to send evidence the following day that the court was not a new one but he is yet to do so.

Based on the statements of Okoro and Anosike, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Sports, Idike, was asked to clarify the status of the court.

“I am not surprised that somebody would say such negative things about this project. Some people are just on standby to run down anything associated with the government or anything done that helps in the government’s drive towards sustainable development.

“Anyone saying it is not a new court is deliberately being mischievous. What do you need to build a court that makes it look like an impossible task?

“For this project, we got a place secured, and that was how the project began from scratch.”

The commissioner then made a plea for other persons who are willing to partner with the government for sustainable developments.

Coach Nwoyechi works with the Enugu State Sports Commission as a basketball coach. He expressed his shock at Anosike’s statement.

He said, “I went to Ebonyi State with Ugo, and so I know about the project from Day One. This court was built on a space. We started work from scratch.

“I am not saying this to please Ugo. He made a huge sacrifice using personal funds, and I have an idea how much this thing cost. It was completely funded by Ugo.

“Anosike knows he is not telling the truth.”

He also spoke about the recently concluded tournament.

“Again, Ugo funded this competition completely. Some of the cash sent to the participants passed through me, and so I can talk about this event in terms of organization and financing.”

The second phase of the NBBF’s Men’s Premier League is ongoing in Enugu. This is quite rare in Nigerian basketball. This flagship competition of the federation had never been held in the South East region in decades. Udezue, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of AFA Sports, says he remains resolute on making an impact in that region.

He says, “I understand that if you don’t have naysayers, you’re probably not doing something right.

“Our focus remains on basketball development, youth empowerment, and infrastructure across the Southeast. We are proud of the progress being made in Ebonyi, through Coal City Blazers, and through other initiatives that are creating opportunities for the next generation.

“We will remain focused on the work and leave the commentary to others.

“My thanks to Honorable Idike for his support throughout the process, and I also want to give thanks to the NBBF President, Engr. Musa Kida for his steadfast encouragement.”

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