Every year, Benue State hosts a plethora of stars and dignitaries to an exciting sports and social gathering- Mark D Ball. Mark D Ball is a basketball tournament held annually during the Christmas period, in the heart of Idoma land. This sports tournament is however no ordinary tournament, as its main function is to use sports as a means of youth empowerment and community building.
From the 26th to the 31st December, 2012, the 5th Edition of Mark D Ball will hold at Otukpo Club 45, Otukpo, Benue State, with music artists including Tuface, Sound Sultan, Ikechukwu and Vector in attendance.
Originally called Save the Game Project, the tournament was rebranded to Mark D Ball four years ago when the Senate President David Mark, threw his weight behind this competition and made it a prominent feature on the social calendar for both Benue State and Nigeria at large.
During the tournament, participants are challenged to meet people and network, as part of efforts to make the country unite under one bond. While participating in the tournament there is a three part “code of living” that participants are encouraged to live by as individuals, as team members, and as members of society; to try and develop ones skills to the best of their ability, to be aware that as a team player you must consider your fellow team members and put the team’s personal goals ahead of yours, and to be aware that participating in the tournament means you must be ready to impact your community positively.
Comrade James Oche, the Senior Legislative Aide to Senate President David Mark has said that the primary aim of the Mark D Ball Tournament is to bring basketball of international standard to the grassroots and to teach children the game for early build-up of their career. According to him, Nigeria could revive its image by encouraging the development of sports at the grassroots with the youth being the target.
“The idea is we intend to train more than 250 students in the basketball academy and those that excel would be given scholarship; the theme here is catch them young while we teach them how to develop their skills. We also encourage them to go to school; to use sports as a past time; the idea is we believe that if you train up a child early enough in his skill, he will grow up to become the Tiger Woods of tomorrow and today’s celebrated sportsmen.”
This year’s edition comes with a twist, as the Mark D Ball team will go up against a celebrity team of basket-ball players, in a friendly game at the opening ceremony of the tournament.
Mark D Ball2012 is supported by: The Senate President David Mark, I.G Mark, Ada Mark
Foundation for Girls, Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour, VerMark Gas, AGIP, Elito, Reynolds Construction Company, El Toro Sportswear, M&M Kids, Iyaache Communications, Thomas Media Inc. and RedBox Inc.
