Akeem Atilola Basketball Clinic kicks-off with 105 participants
By Oluwaseyi Oduneye-Ogunwomoju
The second edition of the Akeem Atilola Basketball Clinic on Wednesday kicked-off with 105 participants at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
Akeem Atilola, a former Oyo State basketball player and organiser, said that the maiden edition held last year was born out of the desire to motivate the young players in the state.
Atilola said that his generation had missed out on motivations, clinics, and competitions.
“We didn’t get people or groups of people to motivate and gear us up in our time. We, in our generation, were just fortunate, and God helped us to soar high.
“I don’t want this younger generation to miss out on what we missed out on. This is to motivate them and give them hope that they can be and achieve whatever they set their hearts to achieve,” he said.
40 girls and 65 boys, comprising elite players and U-15, are participating in the game.
“In this edition, we worked with some colleges in the United States to check out the campers and see if they could meet up their standard and get scholarships.
“Due to some circumstances, the coach couldn’t make it down; but we would be sharing video clips of the participants with them to look inwardly, and hopefully, we can have a few lucky ones.
“I would ensure that anyone picked is successfully taken. Back then, someone invested in me; that’s why I am who I am today,” he said.
The ex-player said he was giving back to the society, “thus giving a win-win situation and further expending the cycle.
“The clinic is not a competition but an avenue to showcase skills.
“It is designed to equip aspiring players with skills, discipline, and exposure needed to excel in basketball and beyond and change their story,” he said.
Atilola, a graduate of Kentucky State University, was part of the team that represented Oyo state at the 2012 National Sports Festival tagged “Eko 2012
