Ado Salisu
Ahmadiyya Platform Basketball Team has emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Ahmad Musa Kida (AMK) Foundation 3×3 Basketball Tournament held at the Rumfa College Basketball Court in Kano.
The one-day grassroots basketball competition was sponsored by the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Ahmad Musa Kida, as part of efforts to promote and develop basketball at the grassroots level across the country.
In an exciting final match, Ahmadiyya Platform defeated the highly-rated Rumfa College team 21-14 points to claim the championship trophy and emerge winners of the inaugural tournament.
Speaking shortly after the final, the tournament coordinator and former basketball star, Sunusi Shuaibu Badway, expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of spectators and the level of competition displayed by participating teams.
Badway commended Ahmad Musa Kida for sponsoring the tournament in Kano, describing the initiative as a significant contribution to the development of basketball in the state. He also called on other wealthy individuals, philanthropists, and corporate organizations to support similar programmes aimed at nurturing young talents and advancing the sport.
Earlier, Kano-based businessman and veteran basketball player, Tijjani Paki, praised the NBBF president for bringing the competition to Kano and investing in grassroots sports development.
According to Paki, organizing basketball competitions for young players provides a valuable platform for talent discovery and helps athletes improve their skills ahead of future state, national, and international competitions.
The tournament featured eight teams drawn from different parts of Kano State, showcasing emerging talents and promoting healthy competition among young basketball enthusiasts.
At the end of the competition, medals and trophies were presented to the champions and runners-up in recognition of their outstanding performances.
Other participating teams included Elevators, Bayero University Kano (BUK), Kabuga Warriors, Bukavu Blinks, Paki Warriors, and Sweet Coach Mother, all of whom received souvenirs for their participation.
The maiden AMK Foundation 3×3 Basketball Tournament is expected to become a regular platform for discovering and developing young basketball talents while strengthening the growth of the game in Kano State and Nigeria as a whole.