The Proprietor of HotCoal Sizzlers Basketball Club of Abuja, Ubon Udoh has explained his quest and hunger geared towards the all-round development of young persons, using Basketball as a tool.
Udoh stated this whole speaking with Journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing Mark D Ball Women’s Tournament holding in Abuja.
His relatively young team on Tuesday, fell just short of qualifying for the Quarterfinal phase of the competition.
The Hot Coal Sizzlers got eliminated, after injuries to two key players, in double overtime saw them lose their clash with MFM of Lagos 44-36.
According to Udoh, the positives imbibed from playing the game of Basketball has been key in making him successful in life, noting that his passion was to give back and transfer the qualities learnt from the slam and dunk game.
His words: “I am a beneficiary of the positive things Basketball can do for a person. You can learn the tools to be successful in life by playing Basketball. Seriously; determination, hardwork, focus, discipline, standing out and being assertive.
“These are things you need to become a good Basketball player, and once you’re a good player, you can become a good and successful person in life, and be better positioned to add value to society.
“ The virtues above are things he benefited while playing Basketball, and to repay the gesture he has resolved to do his best in transferring these qualities to kids and youngsters, using basketball as the platform”. Udoh added
While commending the Initiator of Mark D Ball, Igoche Mark for giving his team the opportunity to rub shoulders with the big girls of Basketball in Nigeria.
Despite losing to experienced campaigners like MFM of Lagos, Udoh said a lot of positives has be taken from their first competition against Premier League oppositions while giving thumbs up to his players for giving a good account of themselves.
Hot Coal had always been a dominant side in Abuja local basketball circuits tournaments like City Leagues and other smaller competition but It is the first time the young team will participate in a tournament of the magnitude of Mark D Ball where the organisers paid every player and official of the 16 competing teams appearance fees and daily allowances directly into their individual bank accounts.
