A young Nigerian girl is on her way to basketball stardom as she prepares to move to the US where she is confident that her career can take a leap. Anuoluwapo Bamijoko told OLUFEMI ATOYEBI that her father was the source of inspirationLike most Nigerian kids, she started as a footballer, but basketball became an interesting sport when she got to secondary school.Anuoluwapo Bamijoko was among the young talents selected to take part in a training tour of Belgium by the organisers of AKOFA Ivy League, after she won the Most Valuable Player for the season. But due to an injury, she could not express her skills beyond the first game in Belgium. But it was enough for scouts present at this years edition of the tour to look out for her.Two of them are working for American universities and they were eager to make an offer. There is also a Christian Basketball Academy in Atlanta showing interest in the young Nigeria. But she was absent because of other events at school in Nigerian. She says it was fun attending her first tour in Belgium and expresses optimism to be successful when she travels for trials in August 2012.She said, When I started playing, my father was always telling me that sport is good but education comes first. I had a good time in Belgium although it was just for a short stay. But the training helped my development as a player even though I got injured. I had a great challenge crossing over from a secondary school girl to taking part in more competitive events. It was tough at the beginning but I think I have scaled that hurdle.I am aware of the interest shown by some American universities and the scholarship offers. But I have to train hard and prove that I am worth the rating. I am prepared for the new challenge and with the help of my parents and coach, I will succeed in the new year.The young players shelve is already filled with individual awards. For three years, she was the Most Valuable Player in Doregos Private Academy and 2010 edition of the National Sports Commission South West Zone 1 Private Secondary School Basketball Championship in Ibadan, an award she also won in this years edition of the championship. She has also won the Best 3 Points Shots in the 2009 edition of the championship.Director of AKOFA IVY League, John Faniran, says Anuoluwapo has a rare talent she can lean on for future success. He said she missed the cut for the 2011 scholarship offer in the US and must be prepared to seize the opportunity next August, adding that the three offers emanated from the tour she attended in 2010.We were supposed to be in Atlanta in August this year but we could not go, so we are looking at the next August, when we hope to secure the scholarship for her and other young players. She has to be ready. She is not playing regularly now but we are arranging a programme that will bring her to a court and train regularly. It is important that she gets into shape before she travels. Her performance will depend on her ability and skill.Chairman ofTHE PUNCH Newspaper and owner of Dolphins Basketball team Wale Aboderin has a private gym and accommodation for his team. It will be a good idea for Anuoluwapo to train with the team and prepare for her next stage. The father wants her to study so that she can fall back on something else after basketball.Faniran says the young player has had no challenge from her mates in secondary school, where she dominated the competitions.The problem is that she had no challenge in the last two years playing in secondary school basketball competitions. She has to move to the next stage of her career and that also entails training with tougher players. Her best came in the national junior camp where she reached the last cut until the NBBF said there was no more room. She would have profited a lot playing at that level but hope is not lost as she is only 16 years.
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