Basketball
Nigeria’s Gabe Osabuohien lights up USA College basketball
Another Nigerian sports star is emerging in the US. He is Gabe Osabuohien who is standing at 6ft 8inches tall.
According to The Business Immigrant newspaper in Canada, Osabuohien is making big waves in USA College basketball, playing as a power forward for West Virginia Tech University.
He is the son of Kingsley and Roseline Osabuohien, immigrants from Nigeria. Gabe reportedly has just graduated in Communications Advertising and Sports Psychology and is now studying for his Master’s degree
The energy he brings off the bench on the defensive end of the floor is unmatched. The newspaper further reports that 22 -year-old Gabe, now one of the best defensive players in USA College basketball has his eyes on the NBA as a possible draft pick in 2022.
How the journey started
Osabuohien seems to have been born with basketball in his heart. Roseline, his mother recalls that Gabe used to turn almost every object into a basketball or a throwing toy. He just folds whatever is placed in his hands and tosses it in the air like a basketball.
The parents did not dismiss this intuition and they quickly registered him in Toronto Raptors Basketball Academy at six years old. His talents stood out and the rest is history.
One on one with Osabuohien
Gabe has some nuggets which can be applied not just to basketball but to the game of life.
What motivates me
“Being able to experience, and reach my current level of success Is a blessing. Growing up my coach always told me I have less than 2% chance of playing college basketball. Coming from a different country even lowered that further.
Just being able to look at where I come from and seeing where I am now motivates me to keep going. I want to create a better life for me and for those I love. I also desire to serve as motivation to the next upcoming immigrant kid or people looking up to me.
How to handle defeats
I handle defeats by bouncing back, I usually do not dwell on defeats for long. Once it hits midnight it is a new day. I try to use defeats as a learning experience I don’t call defeats losses I see them as lessons instead because we learn from them.
LeBron James and other role models
First LeBron James, someone who has always been the best basketball player in my eyes , seeing him develop into the legendary player he is now from a kid makes me appreciate his greatness
Second is the late Kobe Bryant because of his mentality and the will to be great. Kobe has the greatest mindset I’ve ever seen in attacking and giving 110%, every time
Dream big
My advise for younger or newer players is that they should have big goals and dreams. Then put in the work. You can never cheat the game of basketball. The work you put in when no one is looking is what will come to the light when it’s time to play.
It’s also important to stay humble and be submissive to all coaches. They want to win but they usually have the best interest of the players at heart.
Music, basketball, and more
Outside of basketball I love music and have grown to love it more. Just hearing people’s stories through their music and their lifestyle is uplifting for me.
I also enjoy trading stocks and binary options in the foreign exchange. I’m part of one of the best investment groups. We not only make money but help several others make money on a daily basis.
Nigeria and Africa
For sure, it would be a very nice experience to represent Nigeria in basketball someday. I have been able to play basketball at the highest level in college and high school and have met several players who came straight from Nigeria.
Nigeria is my original native land . Despite their many challenges, representing that country would be amazing.”
Latest news and what’s next?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), has just granted Osabuohien permission to capitalize on his name, image and brand and do endorsements. Businesses and brands in USA, Canada and abroad can now collaborate with Osabuohien to elevate their brands.
Osabuohien is certainly heading places. But he hasn’t forgotten his African roots. Big Mac and cheese might taste great but oxtail pepper soup is still his favourite treat!
The sixth edition of the annual women’s basketball championship organised in honour of the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr Daniel Olukoya, and his wife, Dr Shade Olukoya, will climax with the grand finale on Wednesday, July 15, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The championship forms part of activities marking the birthday celebration of the influential couple and has grown into one of the notable events on Nigeria’s women’s basketball calendar.
According to a press release signed by Godwin Enakhena, the Director of Sports, MFM, the tournament continues to serve as a platform for showcasing elite female basketball talent, attracting some of the best players from across Africa.
The competition has become a significant avenue for promoting women’s participation in sports while providing opportunities for players to display their skills at a high level.
Now in its sixth edition, the championship has steadily gained prominence, reflecting MFM’s longstanding commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.
Over the years, the church has played a pivotal role in nurturing talent through its various sporting programmes and clubs, particularly in basketball and athletics.
The 2026 edition is expected to culminate in a keenly contested final, bringing together top women’s teams from Nigeria in a celebration of sporting excellence and the enduring contributions of Dr Daniel Olukoya and Dr Shade Olukoya to both spiritual and community development.
The championship’s grand finale is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, with basketball enthusiasts expected to witness another memorable chapter in a competition that has become a fitting tribute to the Olukoyas’ impact on sports and society.
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SportyTV has secured a three-year agreement to broadcast NBA games free-to-air across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, in a move expected to widen access to basketball on the continent.
The deal will see SportyTV air selected NBA games and special events on its free television platform from next season through September 2028.
The partnership begins this Thursday with Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons. For the remainder of the current season, SportyTV will show eight playoff and NBA Finals games.
Beginning next season, the broadcaster will offer a wider package that includes weekly NBA Saturday games, NBA Christmas Day fixtures, NBA All-Star Weekend programming, selected Play-In Tournament games and extensive playoff coverage, including the NBA Finals.
Vice President of Media, Marketing and Business Development at Sporty Group, Elias Gallego, said the agreement was designed to make NBA content more accessible to African audiences.
“There’s a difference between content being available and it being accessible. This deal closes that gap with NBA games, across mobile, smart TVs, and digital platforms, built around how people actually watch today,” Gallego said.
Fans across the four countries will have the opportunity to watch some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The coverage will also spotlight players with African roots and connections, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.
Apart from live games, SportyTV will broadcast daily highlights, classic NBA content and historic matchups featuring legendary figures like Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo.
The addition of the NBA further strengthens SportyTV’s basketball portfolio, which already includes coverage of the Euroleague.
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By Ugo Okeiyi, Enugu
The end-of-year Ozobz Elite Basketball Invitational Tournament, tagged “Championing the Youth Through Sports, Education and Opportunity,” has taken off and will be concluded on Friday. The three-day event is taking place at the Indoor Sports Multipurpose Gymnasium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
The grassroots basketball competition is designed to serve as a platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of Nigerian basketball talent.
A total of 14 teams — eight male and six female sides drawn from across the country — are competing for honours in what promises to be an exciting three-day basketball spectacle.
The tournament is powered by the Anthony Ozubuekwe Foundation, in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry for Youth and Sports Development and the Enugu State Basketball Association.
Organisers say fans should expect high-quality action, with displays of skill, athleticism and tactical awareness from some of the most promising young players in the country.
According to the organisers, the initiative is structured to positively engage young people, steering them away from social vices and criminal tendencies, while using sports as a tool for education, personal development and opportunity creation.
They added that the tournament will also give coaches and team officials a valuable opportunity to assess the mental readiness, discipline and competitive mindset of the players, while providing a conducive environment for athletes to interact, bond and learn from one another.
The competition will be played in a round-robin format, with attractive prize money on offer. In the men’s category, the champions will receive ₦2 million and a giant trophy, while the runners-up will earn ₦1.5 million.
In the women’s category, the winning team will go home with ₦1.5 million, while the second-placed team will receive ₦750,000.
With its blend of competition, youth empowerment and community development, the Ozobz Elite Basketball Invitational is expected to be one of the standout grassroots sports events of the year in Enugu State.
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