Islanders basketball club of Lagos is gradually returning to its age-long status as one of the most followed basketball teams in Nigeria with the way it has been promoting the slamming and dunking game with superb performance week-in week-out in the DStv Premier Basketball League.
Though under a new management led by telecommunications expert Oladamoye Oyesiku who took over the Islanders basketball club franchise in the wake of 2009 by relegating his former club Kennys’ Bullets basketball club by retaining the traditional name – Islanders basketball club and with the fusion with some goal driven young Nigerians who have added flair to the club image and partnering with the management of Landmark Event Centre, Victoria-Island, Lagos.
Islanders basketball club is on the verge of becoming the envy of other clubs in the Nigerian league.
With initial challenges in securing the basketball equipment which include a floor and uprights the club temporarily retained the national stadium as its home court where it has continued to build a solid fan-base which has seen it win six of its seven regular season games including great away results with an emphatic 86-62 points away win at Oluyole Warriors in Ibadan.
The Islanders will then host the Ibadan war-lords – Oluyole Warriors basketball club in a week-8 pairing at the Landmark Event Centre and has promised to give fans a worth-while first game at the Landmark by setting a mark that basketball fans will always look forward to returning to the Landmark to see the best of basketball mixed with entertainment to be provided by hip hop crooner Sound Sultan.
The May 29 week-8 game against Oluyole Warriors will be remarkable in the history of the league and the upward looking profile of Islanders basketball club at the Landmark Centre.
Club chairman, Damoye Oyesiku says plans have reached an advanced stage for the Islanders to host a hitch free first game at the Landmark by making a mark with the game against Oluyole Warriors.
“We are on top of the situation and are set to have our first game at the Landmark Event Centre, gate fee will be charged and adequate preparations has been made as we set to make basketball games an enjoyable event that people will always yawn to see because we have lined-up great artistes to perform on the night.
With an impressive records of having the best offense in the Atlantic Conference where it has scored an average of 71 points per game and conceded 56.86 points per game the Islanders will host three more regular season games at the Landmark against Kwara Falcons of Ilorin (June 07) versus Union Bank (June 16) and against Delta Force (June 28).
Oluwasegun Ikuesan
newfanzone 