The Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos is expected to wear a new look ahead of the 2017 FIBA Africa Zone 3 club championship eliminations starting on 19th, October 2017.
This was made known by the Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Babatunde Ogunade in Lagos.
Ogunade said the move became necessary to put the venue in proper shape in readiness for the competition which will feature 32 clubs (men and women) from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Liberia.
With no structural changes expected to be made, the LOC chairman said the Nigeria Basketball Federation will make the necessary facelift to some of the facilities inside the Indoor Sports hall which last hosted a continental event more than 6 years ago, when First DeepWater hosted the FIBA African Women Club Championship in 2011.
“We have concluded plans at the federation level to ensure that we put the venue in good condition to host a massive event such as this. This will be the first time in a long while that the federation will be volunteering to host an international competition, so we need to make a very bold statement.”
Listing some of the areas to be touched up inside the hall, Ogunade said “The lights will be replaced with modern and latest energy saving industrial bulbs which will reduce the heat inside the hall, help the press carry out their duties while the players will also play without any inhibition.
“The toilets which have continued to be a major source of worry will be put in good shape because of the magnitude of this event where Nigeria will be hosting dignitaries from 8 countries alongside FIBA Africa high ranking officials.”
Ogunade said the locker rooms will also be wearing a new look while plans have been concluded to clean the seats and bring out the beauty of the indoor sports hall.
“We are also going to change the floor and make it look good and in top shape for the competition. We need to make a statement with this competition between 19th to 29th of October so that we can host Africa if given the opportunity.”
Meanwhile, accrediatation has opened for the 2017 FIBA Zone 3 Club Championship at elimination holding between 19th to 29th of October is now open.
Interested Media organizations who want to cover the competition featuring clubs from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Liberia should forward names of their reporters and cameramen to NBBF media.
Each country will have 4 representatives (2 each in the men and women’s categories) at the tournament which will be hosted in Nigeria.
Teams are expected to arrive on the 19th of October 2017 for the 10 day event which will take place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National stadium, Lagos.
Due to limited space available, only 1 journalist will be accredited from each newspaper organization and radio station while Television stations have space for 1 reporter and a cameraman.
Submission of names will end on Monday, 16th while collection of tags will be on the 19th at the Lagos SWAN Secretariat.