2017 Mark D’ Ball to Hold in World-class Arena

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The annual Mark D Basketball tournament will return next month in Akpegede, Otukpo in a state of the art basketball arena, the Coordinator Mark Sports Foundation, Igoche Mark announced tuesday.

The tournament, usually held in the last month of December, was put off last year following a court injunction by one Edwin Owoicho, a purported trustee of the Idoma Private Trust, that prevented the organisers from gaining assess to the traditional Otukpo Club.

At a press briefing, co-addressed with Coach Adeka Daudu, Obande Ogbole and Mrs Ada Mark Ogbole, Igoche said the facilities at the new centre can only be matched by the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Abuja.

He said Mark D’ Ball will hold this year with finesse from December 26 through December 31 with the venue open to the public.

The tournament is solely promoted by Senator David Mark, through the Mark Sports Foundation, to unify the rural community of Otukpo, by incorporating some of the country’s most exciting basketball players and musical acts.

“We are law abiding citizens and the tournament had to be regrettably put off to avoid needless faceoff and breach of the law. This year we shall be at a new venue, a bigger space and exciting environment,” Igoche Mark said.
The invitational tournament will attract male and female teams nation wide. The teams will play group round robin matches up to the knock-out stages.

An exciting addition to the event is the children clinic.
Mrs Ogbole said that 1,000 children, up from 400 that attended the last edition in 2015, will attend the programme to focus on the family.

She also said there will be infusion of new activities including education into the clinic that begins on December 27.

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