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Tag: FIBA

FIBA: Indoor Sports Hall to wear new look

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 19^th to 29^th 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.

October 9, 2017
Nigeria to host Africa Club championship eliminations

Nigeria will for the first 10 years host an international basketball competition after winning the hosting bid for the 2017 FIBA Africa Club championship zonal elimination finals.

The hosting right of the event which was held in Togo in 2016 was awarded to the Nigeria Basketball Federation by FIBA Africa zone 3 after it met all the criteria for a prospective host.

The President of the NBBF Engineer Musa Kida said having been out of international circulation for the past one decade, it was high time Nigeria claimed her place in Africa as the true giant that she truly is.

Arising from its board meeting which was held in Lagos on Monday, the board unanimously agreed that the absence of any meaningful international competition in Nigeria has adversely affected the clubs.

“The cost of prosecuting these international competitions by these clubs when they travel out will be at least reduced by 50%. Now, clubs participating in the elimination series will only be worried about internal transportation, accommodations and payment of allowances for their players.”

Kida said the move to host the event slated for October 19th to 29th is part of plans to rewrite the story of Nigerian basketball as a force to reckon with in Africa.

Meanwhile, the federation is considering biding for the 2017 FIBA Africa Women’s club championship slated to hold in November.

September 27, 2017
Basketball: Rule change allows players to wear religious headgear

Basketball players will be allowed to wear headgear for religious reasons after world governing body FIBA on Thursday approved a new rule to come into effect from October 1.

“The new rule comes as a result of the fact that traditional dress codes in some countries, which called for the head and/or entire body being covered, were incompatible with FIBA’s previous headgear rule,’’ FIBA said in a statement.

Qatar’s women’s team withdrew from the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea after being denied permission to wear the hijab on court.

The decision, which overturns a 20-year ban on religious head coverings that was originally imposed for safety reasons, was ratified by Swiss-based FIBA’s Mid-Term Congress in Hong Kong.

FIBA began a two-year revision and testing period in September 2014, granting exceptions at national level.

Its central board approved a modification to the rule after receiving a report in January.

The Mid-Term Congress singled out as an historical moment, a test game in Iran on April 13 that featured women wearing hijabs and “marked the first time men witnessed a women’s sports event in person’’.

FIBA said the new rule, which would also allow turbans and yarmulkes, would minimise the risk of injury while ensuring uniform was of a consistent color.

The headgear must be black or white, or of the same dominant colour as that of the uniform, and the same colour for all players on a team.

It must not cover any part of the player’s face entirely or partially, can have no opening or closing elements around the face and neck or pose a danger to any player.

Other sports, including soccer, already allow players to wear headgear during matches.

May 4, 2017
FIBA boss for finals of Doregos basketball tourney

To add glamour and expose the talents to basketball experts, the President, FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col Sam Ahmedu (retd) is among top dignitaries that will grace the finals of the 13th Doregos Inter-schools Basketball Championship.

The finals is scheduled for February 9, with Airforce College slugging it out against Avi Cenna School in the boys final while defending champion, Greensprings battle with Avi Cenna girls.

Ahmedu, who is the proprietor of Dodan Warriors as well as the Country Director of Aspire football academy, expressed his delight to identify with the youngsters of the country’s basketball players, while he commended the organiser of the championship for keeping faith with the tournament.

Schools from Lagos and Ogun states feature annually in the championship which has become a veritable ground to identify young talents and nurture them to stardom.

Also, former Secretary of Agbado Oke Odo LCDA, Waheeb Ajulo, is also expected at the finals, and he also lauded the initiative behind the tournament, which serves as qualifiers for the south west basketball championship.

February 5, 2017
What’s next for African Basketball in 2017?

There is a lot at stake in African basketball in 2017, and

Cairo, Bamako and Brazzaville will be the places to follow the

best the continent has to offer.

Whatever the outcome of so many competitions coming up this

summer on African soil, this year should be an opportunity to

write a new chapter in the history of African basketball.
The Egyptian capital of Cairo will host the FIBA U19 World

Championship – the first of its kind to take place on the

African continent – since Tunisia organised the FIBA U19 World

Championship for Women in 2005. And what makes this tournament

special for Africa is the fact that the continent will be

represented – for the first time – by more than two countries:

Angola, Egypt and Mali.
Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo will gather 16 countries

looking to prevent new African champions Nigeria from winning

back-to-back championships.

FIBA U19 World Championship, a game-changer chance for Africa

Ever since the FIBA U19 World Championship became a biennial

event in 2007, African teams have struggled throughout, but

looking at the talent pool among Angola, Mali and Egypt teams,

something special could happen in Cairo.

So, there will be history made for African countries if:

– FIBA Africa U18 2016 champions Angola, runners-up Mali and

hosts Egypt win three games or more each in the 16-team FIBA

U19 World Championship in the Egyptian capital.

– Any of the three African representatives finish – for the

first time – above the 11th-Place (Egypt accomplished the mark

on two occasions).

– The African trio can beat a European counterpart for the

first time in the history of the competition.

Expectations are highs among Africans, and when I asked Juan

Orenga – the man in charge of Egypt senior and U19 national

teams – to give us his perspective on the tournament, he had

this to say: “Hosting a tournament of the U19 Worlds’

magnitude in Africa will be a great experience for everybody –

supporters, local players and those from other countries. I am

confident it will be a great success for Egyptian basketball.”

There will also be history if:
Angola finished in 2nd-Place in Tunisia 2015

– Angola – the dominant force on the continent over the past

three decades – fail to win the FIBA AfroBasket 2017. After

losing the tournament in 1997 and 2011, the eleven-time Africa

champions bounced back in style.

– Any team other than Angola, Tunisia and Nigeria win the

16-team competition in Brazzaville. These three teams have won

one the last three editions of the FIBA AfroBasket.

Meanwhile, with FIBA’s New Competition System, which will see

the FIBA AfroBasket taking place every four years, 2017 will

certainly be the last chance for a number of players to win

Africa’s most prestigious basketball trophy.

And, obviously, there will be the FIBA Africa U16

Championships.

May 2017 be the year of African basketball greatness.

culled from FIBA.com

January 4, 2017
FIBA Africa Zone 3 Championship: First Bank eyes trophy despite changes

• Mark Mentors, Pillars rekindle rivalry

New coach of First Bank Basketball Club, Peter Ahmedu has promised that he would improve the fortunes of the club despite the changes that took place before he was appointed the coach.

Ahmedu, who led Mark Mentors Basketball Club to victory in the DStv Premier Basketball League this year, stated that his desire is to take the team to a greater height and bring back the winning mentality into the team again.

“I must say that the team I meet in Cotonou is relatively a new one, but with time it will become a unit capable of winning titles. It is clear that we are in transition, however, we will still contest for the FIBA Africa Zone Three crown,” Ahmedu said.

The coach also expressed happiness that the players and the team officials welcomed him with open arms and noted that the relationship would make his work easier. “I got a fantastic reception when I arrived in Cotonou and I believe that this will help me do a good job as I try to take the team to a new level.”

When asked how he would tackle Dolphins, who dethroned his team as Nigerian champions, Ahmedu said: “Dolphin is a good side and they showed this by winning the league for the first time this year. They are a compact team and the defending champions of the zone, but we will do everything possible to ensure that we emerge victorious. it is not a small task, but it is achievable.”

He, however, said that qualifying for the African championship and building a strong team are his immediate priority.

Meanwhile, Nigerian champions, Mark Mentors and Kano Pillars will renew rivalry when the competition begins on Wednesday at Palaise des Sports de Cotonou.

Mentors have taken the dominant role over Kano Pillars Dstv Premier Basketball League in the just concluded season. Technical Adviser, Adeka Daudu has since taken over the reign at Mark Mentors after Ahmedu joined First Bank.

Daudu, who was a former coach of Dodan Warriors, would have his hands full against a Pillars’ side that would be seeking revenge after losing the national title to Mentors. What is sure is that there would be a lot of fireworks when both teams meet.

The Championship will be contested by champion and runners-up teams from the eight countries of the Zone, namely Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria and Togo.

November 2, 2015
Dogara lauds D’Tigers’ FIBA tourney victory

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said the victory of the nation’s basketball team at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Afro basketball 2015 championship in Tunisia was an exhibition of the true Nigerian spirit of resilience, courage and determination.

Dogara, in a congratulatory message by issued his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, said the victory was for all Nigerians and not just the team.

It reads: ” Nigeria has never won the competition as Angola, continued to triumph over the D’Tigers in the past but that yesterday`s victory has finally broken the jinx.

“By beating the 10th time champions 74-65, members of D`Tigers had made Nigeria proud and written their names in gold.

“The Speaker further expressed his happiness with the team for not only winning the competition but qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“He said the team has exhibited the true Nigerian spirit of resilience, courage and determination which according to him, led to their victory over Angola.

August 31, 2015
FIBA-Africa championship:Adeka to coach U-16 basketball female team

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) on Monday announced the appointment of veteran basketball player, Dauda Adeka, as coach of the National U-16 female team.

A statement released by Patrick Omorodion, head of the federation’s media team, said the appointment of Adeka was to prepare the team for the final round of the FIBA-Africa U-16 Women Championship, scheduled for Madagascar from July 10 to July 19.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the coach was recalled to guide the team’s re-entry to the tournament from which it opted to stay away to address age-related issues in youth development programmes.

The statement said that Adeka’s experience with several national youth teams in the past was expected to assist him to prepare this youthful team. It said the team would be expected to form the foundation for the future senior national squad.

According to the statement, Adeka will be assisted by Shola Shomala, the First Deepwater stand-in coach and an ex-national team captain to select a team of 20 players.

The NBBF urged the coach to see the challenge as the “beginning of a rule-based development plan to benefit the country’s basketball in the future.’’ NAN reports that the U-16 female team resumed camping on Sunday in Abuja..

June 30, 2015
FIBA Africa’s Romdhane rates First Bank high

Member of the FIBA Africa Women Commission, Salma Ben Romdhane, has commended First Bank Basketball Club for putting a good performance at the ongoing African Champions Cup for Women in Sfax, Tunisia.

Romdhane, who is also a member of the Tunisia Basketball Federation (TBF), stated that the Nigerian team has shown good improvement from 2012 when they last participated in the competition. She also commended the team’s management for putting together a good squad.

“The First Bank team has shown great improvement and played well at this competition. They were also very good in the victory over CS Sfax and can get to the top if they continue this way. Despite the fans backing their the home team, the Nigerian stood strong and won the game.

“They also did the same against KPA OF Kenya and I am sure they can become champions again if they continue to play well,” Romdhane said.

She added that women basketball has improved and predicted a good Nations Cup. “I hope the players replicate their performance at the Nations Cup and the fans will be in for a good time.”

December 6, 2014
FIBA Africa zone 3 targets outstanding players

As the stage is being set for the finals of the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championships in Lagos, FIBA Africa Zone 3, the Basketball body controlling the zone, sees the championship as a good platform for Nigeria’s budding talents to hit stardom.

The Administrative Secretary of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Joe Apu stated that the Nestle Milo Basketball Championships for Secondary Schools remains Nigeria’s flagship event for talent identification. “Some products of the Nestle Milo Championships have done the nation proud at international competitions’’. He recalled names such as Mohammed Bukar now based in the United States and Canada based Edwin Jerry who were products of the championship.

Other national team players like Olumide Oyedeji, Anyebe Ujo and Nkechi Akashiele among others also had their foundation in the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championships.

Apu praised the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball programme as very outstanding in the zone which has Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger and Liberia.

The qualifying teams will arrive in Lagos on December 1. The players’ accreditation starts on Tuesday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium Lagos by 9am while the championship starts with the Round Robin games at 1 o’clock.

November 29, 2014