Initiator of the Giant of Africa (GOA) Basketball Camps, Masai Ujiri has said that the obstacles he experiences every year will spur him to do more for the youths in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 15th edition of the camp, which opened yesterday at the National Stadium, Lagos, Ujiri stated that the energy, camaraderie and competitiveness have been the hallmark of the camp. He also said that the opportunity the yearly event offers has kept the dream alive.
He said: “This is home for me even though we go through a lot of challenges every year. I am still proud of the country. Encountering obstacles is a way of life here but we need to make things better. In spite of all these odds, we continue to plug away and ensure things better.
“I don’t want to focus on negatives but these are things will get over as time goes on. I always say that the facilities here need to get better. The stadium is an eyesore. Look at how they made gym look good for the World Cup qualifiers, while the atmosphere was good during the games. It is resourceful and commercial, that is the way we need to move on instead of being stagnant with the same people doing the same thing all over,” he added.
While advising the participants to be focused, Ujiri expressed confidence that his team would always strive to improve the youths by expanding their mind and letting them know that they have opportunities to grow even if they do not end up as basketball players.
The president of Toronto Raptors also assured that the journey had just started with plans to take it beyond the six African countries currently benefitting from the programme. “It is still a journey which in my mind we have not even started.
“It seems like 10 minutes ago that we started in Zaria. It seems like it was 15 minutes ago we started in Abuja and Lagos. We did the GOA and the Bigman Camp for nine consecutive years in Nigeria and then I extended this to other parts of Africa with Kenya becoming the second country to benefit. I am proud now that I have been accepted in Africa as the son of the continent.
“One day the borders of Africa will to be open and I feel that I can go into all parts of Africa at will and do the same programme, feel the same way and learn the culture of people,” he added.