Fireball Basket Tourney : 8 Teams Jostle for N160,000 Prize Money

  Fireball Basket Tourney : 8 Teams Jostle for N160,000 Prize Money By Editor A total number of eight U-20 teams are currently jostling for the N160,000 prize money of the maiden edition of Fireball Basketball tournament going on at the basketball court of Area One playing ground in Abuja. Coordinator of the tourney, Ms Ruby Abalaka disclosed that the first prize winner will go home with the sum of N75,000, the first runner up N50,000 while the second runner up will earn N35,000. Abalaka said the tournament was organised to keep the kids off the streets by giving them something to look up to in future. "These kids are leaders of tomorrow and we hope to positively engage them and provide them a platform to showcase their talents. It is not only for the players it is also forum for the national coaches, administrators and fans to come together and have fun," she said. Abalaka said the tournament will be organised twice in a year as long as it attracts more sponsors and acceptance. Also speaking on the championship, one of the organisers Ubom Udo hopes the coaches and administrators would use the opportunity to fish out talents for basketball and national teams. He said the tourney is all about the development of the sport from the grassroots and opportunity to scout for talents by club owners. Another stakeholder, Bishop Amakra who supported the tourney said he was inspired by the tourney which will keep the kids from going into other vices and urged other stakeholders to emulate the organisers by staging such championship for youths. The teams in attendance are Gboko City Chiefs, Apo Settlers, TNT Panthers, Big Man Factory, Hot Coal Ballers, A 1 and Buckets. The final comes up on Saturday, October 10 at the same venue.