By Our Correspondent

An international Non-governmental Organization, NGO with deep passion to promote grassroots sports, Sports Renaissance Africa Partners, SRAP has signed a partnership agreement with Ganon Baker on training of coaches for the development of basketball in Nigeria.

SRAP’s Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Relindis Mbu who disclosed this while interacting with sports journalists in Abuja on Friday noted that with the right coaching and training resources, Nigeria would soon return to basketball’s elite ranks.

She said that the organisation has decided to host a globally recognised coaching workshop with famous basketball skills coach, Ganon Baker in order to achieve this goal.

Relindis stressed that chosing America’s Ganon Baker for such laudable initiative is because the company has been into training and coaching for over three decades; working with the NBA, WNBA, CBA, Euro League, NCAA, NJCAA, U Sports and more. He is a former Nike Skill Development Trainer and Workout Director, among others.

“At SRAP, we are passionate about bringing in experts from the world with a tactical experience that can help develop our young talents.

“The training clinic and certification programme with the renowned Ganon Baker will hold in Abuja at the Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium from August 15 to August 20, and it would be moved to Lagos from August 22- August 27, at the OBN Academy Facility”, she said.

According to Relindis, SRAP is working with Baker because of his vast experience in the game and his systematic curriculum that takes young players from zero to pro.

“Ganon Baker is committing to contextualizing his comprehensive Zero-To-Pro curriculum for
basketball coaches and athletes in Nigeria, hosting LIVE sessions in Nigeria at least 4 times a year, as well as LIVE trainings with eligible Nigerian athletes and coaches in his state of the art basketball facility in Florida, USA.

“He has opened up access to his strong network of talent management and within the global basketball ecosystem.

“Ganon Baker’s curriculum is more detailed and comprehensive than any other out there in the basketball space, and available ONLINE and LIVE. His holistic approach gives a coach or player everything they need for their complete physical, mental and emotional development”, said Relindis Mbu.

She added that SRAP would also be working with other stakeholders to ensure better exposure and scouting for young Nigerian talents.

Terfa Akpoyibo, Chief Operating Officer of SRAP, also said that the coaching clinic with Baker would be a continuous programme and would go a long way in developing Nigeria’s grassroots basketball.