January 05, (THEWILL) – Benue born United States of America based former basketball star, Mr Jeff Ngutor Verem has injected the sum of $15,000 an equivalent of N6.179, 250 in Basketball Academy.
The ex-international who hails from Buruku local government area of the state, said he decided to establish the academy aimed at arresting idle youths on the streets of Benue state since there are no white colour jobs from government circles.
The US based basketballer in a chat with Sport Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Makurdi, however, decried poor attitude of government officials that tend to demand gratification before granting him access to the use of facilities at Aper Aku stadium complex.
“How can I pay for the use of the facility that I injected my hard earned money into upgrading it. This is why I shifted the Basketball Academy to Gboko local government area,”
According to the Basketball star, he intended to have for a start about fifty players but due to popular demand, the academy is hosting up to eighty players at a camp in Gboko.
While describing basketball as a money spinning venture, he pledged a contentious donation of jerseys, balls and shoes to Benue basketball teams to improve on its performances.
He therefore, advised Benue State Government to increase its yearly budgetary allocation to the sport sector so as to tackle the decaying infrastructures and youth restiveness, describing sport as a goldmine if it’s potentials are properly harnessed.
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