Bayelsa State once again asserted its supremacy in the highly anticipated Nestlé MILO Basketball Championship 2023.
For the remarkable 10th consecutive time, St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, located in Amarata, Yenagoa, has secured a spot in the finals of this prestigious tournament, now in its 23rd edition.
Since 2010, St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School has been a force to be reckoned with in the championship, emerging as champions seven times in the last eight years.
Their unrivaled success continued in the Atlantic Conference held in Asaba, where they faced off against fierce competitors, including Dom-Domingos College from Warri, Delta State.
With a hard-fought victory of 14 points to 12, St. Jude’s Girls solidified their position in the finals.
Coach Tony Nelson, the driving force behind St. Jude’s Girls’ exceptional performance, divulged the secret to their continued success.
He attributed their achievements to a relentless pursuit of improvement, stating, “We have dedicated the past two years to building a formidable team in Bayelsa. Winning the conference is just the beginning for us. We are determined to raise our game to meet and surpass the national standards.”
Coach Nelson, a native of Bayelsa, expressed his gratitude for the team’s progress, remarking, “As defending champions, we are immensely grateful for reaching this level. With many new players joining our ranks, we thank God for their incredible talent. Every year, we make our way to Lagos, a city where we have been crowned champions an impressive seven times. Following our return to Bayelsa, we will analyze and rectify our mistakes from the Atlantic Conference, ensuring we triumph once again at the national finals in Lagos.”
Coach Nelson’s coaching expertise extends beyond St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School. Over the past thirteen years, he has worked with three different teams, including Belary Schools and Bishop Dimieari Grammar School, all based in Bayelsa State.
Notably, Coach Nelson has trained over 100,000 aspiring basketball players for competitions and camps while serving with the Bayelsa State Sports Council.
His philosophy centers around the importance of prayer and hard work as key factors for success.
Driven by his passion for nurturing young talent, Coach Nelson shared, “Working with children and making a positive impact on their lives brings me immense joy. Witnessing their growth, success, and transformation into leaders is my motivation. I visit schools, identify promising young athletes, and bring them to the sports complex to commence their training. The ultimate reward lies in seeing them become champions and influential figures in society.”
In the boys’ category of the Atlantic Conference, Urhobo Model College from Effurun, Delta State emerged victorious over Bishop Dimieari Grammar School from Ovom, Bayelsa State, with a score of 28 points to 24 points. Joining St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School in representing the Atlantic Conference at the national finals of the Nestlé MILO Basketball Championship in Lagos are Urhobo Model College.
The national finals will feature teams from the Savannah Conference, which took place in Kano from May 3rd to May 10th, the Central Conference held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja from May 12th to May 19th, and the Western Conference in Ibadan from May 30th to June 6th, 2023.
Mr. Olutayo Olatunji, the Category Manager for Beverages at Nestlé Nigeria, reaffirmed Nestlé’s commitment to talent development, promoting healthier lifestyles, and instilling values for success through sports. Olatunji emphasized the enduring impact of the championship, stating, “Through the Nestlé MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship, we believe children learn essential values that contribute to their overall success in life. We are proud to provide a platform where young talents can showcase their skills. The discipline, perseverance, courage, self-belief, and respect they acquire extend beyond the basketball court, equipping them for future achievements in various spheres of life.”
With its rich history and impact, the Nestlé MILO Basketball Championship has grown exponentially since its inception in 1999, now attracting over 150,000 individual players from over 10,000 schools across Nigeria annually.
