Kwese Sports TV Hosts NBA Legend, Jerome Williams In Lagos

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Africa’s largest and free-to-air TV channel, Kwese Free Sports on Friday, September 29 hosted a reception in honour of American NBA legend, Jerome Williams at the Hard Rock Café in Lagos.

The star-studded event had in attendance notable basketball fans in Nigeria, including music star Lanre Fasasi popularly known as Sound Sultan; former basketball player and NBA agent, Ugo Udezue; former NBA player, Olumide Oyedeji; singer Lynxx; OAP Vimbai Mutinhiri; actress Joselyn Dumas, OAPs Olamide Akintobi and Tosyn Bucknor, music manager Efe Omorogbe and actor Enyinna Nwigwe.

Prior to the reception, Kwesé Free Sports had organised a basketball clinic under the tutelage of former NBA player, Jerome Williams for over 200 Students drawn from different schools in Lagos and Ogun States, including Julliard Academy in Magodo; Dansol High School, Agidingbi and the Nigerian Turkish International College, Isheri, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The clinic sole aim was to teach the kids some basic techniques about the game of basketball.

It was attended by boys and girls aged between 12 and 20 years.

The former NBA player, Williams, took his time to lecture the young lads some basic fundamentals in ball handling, dribbling, jump stops, passing and shooting.

Williams with some of the kids at the clinic

Williams, is an American retired professional basketball player who last featued for the New York Knicks of the NBA.

He was a star player on the Magruder High School basketball team.

Drafted out of Georgetown University by the Detroit Pistons with the 26th pick of the 1996 NBA Draft.

He played over four years with the Pistons, becoming one of their key reserves. He was a fan favorite during his days playing for the Toronto Raptors due to his tenacious efforts on the court.

Williams played in 587 games over nine seasons, averaging 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

He joined the NBA’s “Basketball Without Borders” programme, an effort to teach the game and bring resources to underdeveloped nations in Africa, Asia and other parts of the globe.

From September 26-28, 2017, the basketball legend was in Abuja for the fourth finals of ‘Power Forward’, a youth development initiative of ExxonMobil, NBA and Africare focused on raising public health awareness among youths.

The General Manager, Kwese Free TV, Chichi Nwoko, explained at the end of the exercise that Kwese is committed to the development of basketball in Africa.

She also stated that Kwese Free Sports broadcasts an impressive line-up of sporting content including the NBA, Premier League, Carabao Cup, Copa Del Rey, international boxing and Formula One.

Chichi later revealed at the reception for Williams that the channel has also birth a new show “NBA Sundays” to be hosted by Sound Sultan.

The live show will be broadcast from the Hard Rock Café at 9.30pm local time, every Sunday from November 5.

She also stated that Kwese Free Sports audience will be able to watch four live NBA games every week, including Live prime-time match-ups for the region on NBA Sundays, every Sunday from the start of season.

Kwese Free Sport broadcasts on terrestrial television on UHF 32 in Lagos.

It is also available on Kwese TV decoder channel 285 and FreeTV channel 732 in Abuja and Jos.