Nigeria’s sports minister, Sunday Dare led his pet basketball club, Ogbomosho Rockets, to a debut victory over LAUTECH Thunders on Saturday at the freshly renovated basketball court inside Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) (45-35).
The Minister played the first quarter for Ogbomosho Rockets in the warm-up game while former D’Tigers captain Olumide Oyedeji played for LAUTECH Thunders.
Dare stated that several of the basketball players have been deemed as excellent enough to play for the national teams in the near future.
“I am happy that I am able to give back to the community especially the youth in the University campus, the largest concentration of youth in this country are in the campuses. And you can see the talents. Investment in youth is directly an investment in sports development.
“I am sure one or two of them will make it to the national team. We have seen the flashes. We have seen Olumide Oyedeji who is former NBA player and D’Tigers captain he is also happy seeing some talents her.
“First, we have seen LAUTECH basketball team will now start their trainings on the new reconstructed court and become more competitive on one of the best basketball court balls. We also built stand for supporters to sit and cheer them to victory during matches.
“So, they have all the components they need, beyond that, to keep that alive we are going to have a six-team tournament in February. The teams will come from Kwara, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun States.
“The renovation of LAUTECH basketball court for and launching of Ogbomosho Rockets Basketball team is one of my ways of giving back to my community and I’m very happy to get it done. I’m proud of my homeland and will continue to do everything within my capacity to ensure development at all levels in Oyo State. More still coming”, Chief Sunday Dare concluded.