By Ado Salisu
Family Support Programme Secondary School, Katsina, and Government Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State, have emerged champions of this year’s Nestlé Milo Inter-Secondary Schools Basketball Savannah Conference held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Sani Abacha Sports Complex, Kofar Mata, Kano.
In the boys’ final, the Katsina team defeated Government Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa State, by 63-62 points in a thrilling encounter, while Government Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State, won the girls’ title after beating Government Girls College, Bauchi, 53-43 points.
To reach the final, the Katsina boys’ team defeated Dutse Model International School, Jigawa State, 75-60 in the semi-final clash, while Government Mega College, Doma, Gombe State, lost 40-63 to the Taraba girls’ team in the second semi-final.
The two winning teams are expected to represent the Savannah Conference at the national finals of the championship scheduled to hold later this year at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Highlights of the event included cultural dance performances by participants, presentation of gifts, Nestlé Milo products, cheques and trophies to outstanding players and officials, while the winning teams received giant trophies.
Dignitaries at the colourful closing ceremony included the President of the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph, Nestlé Milo Category Development Manager, Funnilola Abiola Oyewole, and the Head Coach of the national basketball team, Sani Ahmad.
Meanwhile, the Central Conference of the competition will hold in Ilorin, the Atlantic Conference in Asaba, while the Western Conference will take place in Ibadan.