A 15-year old Senior Secondary School 2 student, Augustine Josephat, who spotted Jersey Number 12 was the cynosure of all eyes, as the pint-sized Points Guard of Government Secondary School (GSS) Wuse was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 4th edition of the annual Oricha Basketball Challenge, held on Saturday, at the Outdoor Sports Arena of the School, located in Area 10, Garki.
Oscar as Augustine is fondly called, dazzled like a million star, with eye-catching defending, steels, deft layoffs, and other slam and dunk skills, far above his size and age; and won for himself an academic scholarship, for the rest of his time at GSS Wuse zone 3, and as long as he keeps playing basketball.
Announcing the star award, the founder of Oricha Basketball Foundation, Alhaji Abubakar Ajayi, was full of praise for the youngster, and said he will personally be at the school to activate the scholarship.
“Of the four teams that took part in the mini Championship, Oscar was a delight to watch, not minding his stature. His conduct on and off the field of play speaks volumes, I mean for a player his size. So I will be in his school, GSS Wuse Zone 3 to complete all the formalities for a full scholarship, that will dovetail to the Foundation also registering him for WAEC and NECO,” Alhaji Ajayi asserted.
Remarkably, while Oscar did enough to distinguish himself, his team, GSS Wuse lost their Semi-final 28-30 to GSS Maitama, before they were able to edge GSS Apo Resettlement 21-20 to place third.
Oscar, later told reporters that his dream is to grow in the game and play at the highest possible level.
“I feel good, I felt great, not that we lost and couldn’t play for the championship; but I believe we will be back to do so next year, and I will also want to be the MVP again, by God’s grace. My goal is to repeat this success at a higher level”, Oscar told reporters.
To be crowned champions, GSS Gwarimpa went on to beat GSS Garki 26-10, (having led 16-07 at half time).
The final of the mini Championship, was graced by a host of dignitaries including the Madaki of Ebiraland, Hon Kabiru Ajana, Dr Sanusi Ohiare, Dr Tijjani Ajayi, Christy Adejoh and Shehu Sanusi, the representative of the Director/Secretary FCT Secondary Education Board.
The other highlights of the day were cultural dances, and the Veterans game, which was preceded by the gift of match balls, cones, hand pumps, and training bibs to the captains of the four newly adopted schools, and that brought the number of adopted schools to six.
In between the matches, there were also counselors at hand to mentor the players, and the mentorship dwelt mainly on the opportunities that abound in pursuing a career in basketball, and what youngsters stand to benefit, from when they can marry their academic pursuit with building a career in sports.