Date: 2021-01-20

The Kwara basketball fraternity has recognised the contributions of late Steve Onishola to the game, with a posthumous Merit Award, as well as a championship, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports from Ilorin.

Late Steve Onishola, a FIBA accredited Technical Official and well known basketball coach, who died on Jan.7, was elder brother to late Nollywood actress, Folake Aremu, popularly known as Orisabunmi.

At the ceremonial event held at the Outdoor Court of the Kwara State Stadium, on Monday, Babatunde Onishola, son of the former Technical director of Kwara Falcons Basketball Club, was on hand with his wife and children, to collect the award on behalf of the family.

Speaking at the occasion, Onishola, said the support his family received from the basketball family, Kwara Sports Council and other individuals, was massive, while praising all those that contributed for their kind gesture and also praying for the continued success of Basketball in the state.

The Kwara Basketball Veterans, supported by other individuals, also celebrated the achievements of one of their own, Rasheed Bello, Ex-Lagos Islander, who was given a Merit award, for his outstanding contributions to the game during his playing days. Earlier, in the day, Vikings overpowered Rockstar 53-50 to emerge champions of the first Prolific memorial Basketball championship organised in honour of Onishola, while Team Westside ended up in third place.

Cash Prizes and other individual awards were given to the top three teams and outstanding players, at the colourful ceremony attended by Director, Kwara Sport Council, Coach Atanda Alarape, Mallam Tunde Kazeem, Alhaji Abdulfatah Dankazeem, amongst others.(NAN)