Participants at the just concluded two-day Akeem Atilola Basketball Clinic commended the organisers for upscaling their knowledge of the sport.
The participants at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan said that the clinic had made them more confident players.
In her opinion, 14-year-old Imoleayo Teniola said the clinic was a platform to learn more basic skills in basketball.
Teniola also appreciated the coaches for being so patient and impactful.
“It’s been four years since I started playing basketball, and over the years, I have grown and gotten better in the game.
“I thank the organisers for the consistent support in helping us get better,” she said.
Another participant, Oluwatoyin Alapafuga, said he decided to play basketball when people kept asking if he was a player due to his height after his secondary school education.
According to Alapafuga, he remains glad that he chose to play basketball three years ago.
“I have been able to learn correct basketball skills, as they corrected the many wrong things we were used to.
“I must say it was indeed a great experience, and I’m happy I was selected to benefit from the clinic.
“I’m hoping that we’ll be seeing many more of this so that we can keep getting better with more exposure.
“I appreciate the sponsor for remembering and helping us with this,” he said.
Another player of five years’ experience on the court, Karimot Olatunde, said she had no regret switching from a cyclist to a basketballer.
According to her, she’s more fulfilled playing basketball.
“I started as a cyclist, but along the way, I developed a deeper interest in basketball, and I switched to it.
“The clinic was an interesting one and quite different from the past clinics and camps that I have attended.
“The coaches were very patient and calm with us; they took time to teach and carry us all along,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Head Coach of the Oyo State Basketball Association, Taiye Sobogun, commended Atilola, a former Oyo State player, for keeping his word on sponsoring the clinic annually.
Sobogun appreciated him for ensuring that more participants, 40 females and 65 males, were accommodated in the second edition.
“Atilola built on the success of last year’s maiden edition, and I’m happy that there were more participants this year.
“This is a good way to engage and improve the many skills of young players that abound in the state.
“We see them training constantly, but they do not have opportunities to evaluate their skills and learn new things,” he said.
The coach, however, urged more former players and basketball enthusiasts to organise more basketball events in the state.
“The players need more competitions and clinics because that’s the only way they can keep getting better and putting their competitive skills to the test,” he said.
The clinic had 105 participants, made up of elites and U-15 players.