Izuchukwu OkosiOyo and Delta states’ men and women have emerged champions of the 2023 BetKing 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball National Championship which was held at the outdoor Sports Hall of Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
Oyo state defeated Lagos state 10-1 to lift the trophy in the men’s category while Delta state defeated Oyo state 3-2 to win the women’s category.
Osun state came down from three points to beat Abuja 7-5 to seal third position in the men’s category while Imo state pummeled Kqwara state 5-1 to settle for third position in the women’s category.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, President of Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria, Mr Seyi Johnson said the championship was an opportunity for the players to get an opportunity to represent Nigeria at the African Para Games in Ghana next September.
He said the current board is working round the clock in ensuring Nigeria returns to its rightful position in Africa.
Johnshon said: “The current board plans to leave a legacy in Wheelchair Basketball; the journey has been tedious but we are optimistic of making a mark.
“We are ready to organise various championships across the country. Wheelchair Basketball will make Nigeria proud and will be a thing of joy as well as pride to sports in this country.
“Impossibility is not in my dictionary and I got the philosophy from my boss, Hon Bukola Olopade. He told me when people say there is no way, I should create a part and I think I am creating a way in Wheelchair Basketball.”
He said, “Ahead of the African Para Games in Ghana, the national coaches are on ground to monitor the players and sports talents.
“After two weeks of rest, the players will resume camp because our dream is to attend the Para Games and qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. We have identified our weak links and want to work on them before the African Para Games.
Meanwhile, winners in both categories went home with a trophy and N500, 000; first runners-up pocketed N300,000 while second runners-up went home with N200,000.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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