Portland Trail Blazers forward, Al-Faruq Aminu, visited Nigeria at the weekend to set up a training camp in Ibadan, which involved more than 40 children.
Some of the children will be selected to take part in the African Conference, taking place in South Africa later in the year. The D’Tigers star said it was his intention to mentor the children to star in the NBA soon.
After the event, which took place on Friday and Saturday, the NBA star was led to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, by the Chairman of Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Dr. Lekan Are, on Sunday. The basketball player had in his team, his mentor, Yinka Abioye, family members as well as agent from the US Chief Executive Officer of KICC, Damola Are.
Describing the day as a special one in his life, Aminu said his visit to the Olubadan was out of respect for the influential monarch. He presented a basketball to the king at the end of the visit.
He said, “It was amazing working with those children on the court during the training camp. I have seen the quality of these children and it is glad to know that they have a great future in the game. After the camp, some of the children will play in the African Conference in South Africa.
“Coming to Nigeria gives me a great feeling. Meeting the king is a great experience too. Ibadan is my home and it gave me a great feeling to visit the palace. Olubadan is our father.”
The Olubadan wished Aminu a fulfilling career in the game, saying the basketball player had demonstrated qualities of a true son of Ibadan.
Facilitator of the visit, Dr. Are, highlighted the importance of the meeting and thanked the monarch for receiving the team
He said, “Aminu is one of our sons that we should be proud of. He is in Nigeria with his mother, wife and members of his family. To rise in the NBA, you need a mentor or agent no matter how good you are. Aminu has deemed it fit to visit Nigeria with people who made him. One of them is Tabrez Yousuf, who came with him. Aminu is the great grandson of former Olubadan Salawu Aminu Adeoyo.”
Speaking on the visit, Abioye said the training camp would hold annually.
