President of the Wheelchair Basketball Federation, Mr. Seyi Johnson, has said the forth-coming Abeokuta Championship is expected to be ‘one of the most important tournaments for players’.
The National Championship, which will be staged from Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th June, 2023 at the Abeokuta Sports Stadium, the Ogun State Capital, will also serve as a means of selection for this year’s African Para Games which will be held in Ghana.
With all of Nigeria’s finest players expected to contend for spots at the Africa Para Games from 20 states, athletes who participated at last year’s qualifiers should expect rigid competition in Abeokuta.
In his words, Johnson said: “The Wheelchair Basketball Championship is going to be the biggest national event this year as players will be contending for spots ahead of the African Para Games”.
He noted that “Nigeria has players scattered across the country and the only way for them to showcase their talent is to organise a championship”. We want to present the best athletes for the Para Games and have podium finish in Ghana.
The Wheelchair Basketball boss added that technical officials and top Paralympic Committee of Nigeria Officials are going to witness the championship to ensure the level of seriousness attached to it.
Johnson also said that the federation is working to ensure that the welfare of the players is top priority.
The sport administrator noted, “the board is aware of the challenges faced by the Wheelchair Basketball players, that is why the federation has concluded arrangements to give accommodation to participating teams”.