Favour Kpee’s journey to turning into a nationwide basketball participant is a testomony to the ability of ardour and perseverance.
The 18-year-old combo guard, who stands at 6ft, found his love for basketball on the age of 13, regardless of having tried his hand at varied different sports activities.
“I performed sports activities like lawn-tennis, squash, soccer which I used to be good at and table-tennis earlier than falling in love with basketball,” Kpee advised PUNCH Sports activities Further.
Born on August 28, 2006, Kpee’s introduction to basketball got here by the affect of his pals, main him to affix the Soso Bobmanuel Basis basketball household.
“I began basketball once I was 13 years previous. I pursued basketball as a result of affect of my pals. I began with the SBM Basis basketball household,” he mentioned.
The Port Harcourt-based participant, who just lately graduated from CSS Oroworukwo, credit his coaches, Soso Bobmanuel and Noble Wechie, for his growth each on and off the courtroom.
“I joined the inspiration as a result of I need to be a greater individual exterior basketball. The muse doesn’t solely train you basketball however different elements of life like making me a greater model of myself,” Kpee added.
Kpee’s expertise rapidly caught the attention of his coaches, with Bobmanuel, the founding father of The SBM Basis, recalling his first impressions of the younger participant.
“When he first joined The SBM Basis, he was a uncooked expertise however there was no denying his toughness. He let the senior gamers know that he’s coming for them. It didn’t take lengthy for him to go from an intermediate to a senior participant,” Bobmanuel mentioned.
Regardless of his fast rise within the sport, Kpee credit his dad and mom for his or her unwavering help from the start saying, “They did help me, and so they nonetheless do.”
Regardless of the challenges of balancing lecturers and sports activities, Kpee has thrived, representing Nigeria in worldwide competitions.
“One among my greatest moments amongst others was the primary time I represented my nation within the Worldwide Faculty Sports activities Federation; ISF that came about in Serbia. That was in September 2022,” he revealed.
Nevertheless, the journey hasn’t been with out its setbacks. Kpee admitted to moments of doubt, saying, “I’m not going to lie, sure typically I really feel like I’m focused, particularly when issues don’t prove the way in which you anticipate, even after all of your preparations.”
Like each athlete, Kpee has confronted his justifiable share of disappointments. He remembers a heartbreaking loss in a contest together with his group, The SBM Basis, in opposition to their fierce rivals. “Dropping that ultimate was one of many saddest moments for me,” he admitted. “However these setbacks push me to work more durable.”
In these difficult instances, Kpee finds solace within the steering of his coach, Bobmanuel.
“He lets me perceive that nothing good comes straightforward however we must always be certain we benefit from the course of,” {the teenager} mentioned.
Kpee’s journey has additionally seen notable victories. One spotlight was with the Junior Nationwide Group in Ivory Coast, the place they claimed the primary ticket on the Afrobasket Qualifiers 2024.
“Successful with the group was particular,” Kpee mentioned proudly. “It felt like all of the laborious work paid off.”
Trying forward, Kpee has set his sights on taking part in school basketball abroad, with aspirations of creating it to Europe and in the end, the NBA.
“My dream is taking basketball to get to the following stage in my life, taking part in school ball abroad, making it to Europe and naturally, the NBA could be the icing on the cake,” he acknowledged.
He attracts inspiration from his function mannequin, Golden State Warrior guard and two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry, whom he describes as “the best shooter to ever play the sport.”
Bobmanuel believes in Kpee’s potential, saying, “With what I’m seeing, Favour has the potential to play school basketball and even go skilled both within the NBA, Europe or Asia.”
For now, the younger combo guard continues to develop his recreation whereas balancing his schooling and coaching in Port Harcourt. Together with his eyes set on the longer term, Kpee is undoubtedly a participant to look at, and as his coaches, teammates, and household proceed to help him, the sky’s the restrict for this younger expertise.
