Team Lagos have won the
star prize of N2 million at the just concluded 2nd Ochei Wheelchair Basketball
International Championship held inside the Sports Hall of the National Stadium,
Surulere, Lagos Saturday.
Team Lagos defeated Delta State in the final
by 40-29 points. Runners up got the sum of N1.5m, while the third place
winners, Edo State got N1m from the sponsor, Victor Ochei, the Speaker of the
Delta State House of Assembly.
Coach of Team Lagos, Ayinde Balogun, who took
Team Oyo to the first edition last year, said that the support they received
from their teeming fans motivated them to the final where they dethroned the
defending champions, Team Delta.
“We will like to dedicate this victory to all
our fans that ensured that we were not alone in this tournament despite the
fact that we started on a slow pace in the beginning of the competition. We are
really proud of them because we never knew we could enjoy so much support from
the Lagosians despite the fact that the championship is being hosted in Lagos
for the first time.
“We also want to thank the Lagos State
government, through the Office of the Commissioner for Youths, Sports and
Social Development headed by Enitan Osodi for the moral and financial support
they gave to us,” said coach Balogun, who is fondly called ‘Ashana Pro’.
Meanwhile, in its bid to reward the victorious
Team Lagos for their triumph, the Lagos State government has promised to
purchase 10 new modern wheelchairs for the team. This was disclosed by the
Commissioner for Sports, Osodi, while congratulating Team Lagos for their
success.
A Team Lagos’ player, Ahmed Ogunbona, was
adjudged as the most valuable player and the highest pointer of this year’s
tourney. He was given the sum of N500, 000 with a new wheelchair.
Twelve states of the federation took part in
the grassroots sports competition, while Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic were
international teams that featured in the tourney.
The third edition is scheduled to hold next
year at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
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