Tag: NBBF

The Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Alhassan Yakmut has expressed displeasure over the unsettled litigation at the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) for almost a year and urged the basketball family to work towards its resolution.

 According him, “having a case in court for a year is a disservice to Nigerian youths who are eager to play the game.  I think the game of basketball should be restricted to the basketball court and not the conventional court”.

Yakmut who presided over the meeting called for the reconciliation of the warring factions in Abuja today, noted that despite the absence of some board members at the meeting, parties have agreed to abide by decisions reached at the meeting through the apologies they sent.

He also noted the haphazard manner in which non-governmental organisations, and some federations juxtapose programmes without confirming if such events were in the sporting itinerary of the federations for the year.

The Director-General therefore directed the Director, Federation of Elite Athletes Department (FEAD) to develop checklists for the federations, which would be subjected to amendment depending on the timeline of such events.

 He further directed that sponsors and NGOs be allowed unfettered access to such checklists to ensure adherence and follow-up.

The Director General disclosed that the essence of ensuring that the basketball family is on the same page is to ensure that Nigerian youths are given the opportunity to showcase their talents and excel in the game.  He recalled that the highest Nigerian paid sports person is an American-based basketball player.

Yakmut mandated all federations to ensure that all board members be carried along in all activities, while urging them to develop an e-communication system where every member could easily be reached at short notice.

In his response, the President of the NBBF, Tijani Umar commended the efforts of the Director General in bringing board members together for the benefit of the game and youths.  He assured that every board member would be given their due as stipulated in the guidelines.

Ayo Bakare, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), on Tuesday announced his resignation from the federation.

“After due consideration of my personal commitments at this time, I have decided to withdraw from my role as the Technical Director of the Nigeria Basketball Federation,’’ Bakare told newsmen in Lagos.

He said the decision was not sudden, but was made after a lot of consideration, discussion and consultation with the federation.

“I have the highest personal and professional regard for the NBBF President Tijjani Umar and his administration and fully endorse and support their programmes. I remain irrevocably committed to the progress of Nigerian basketball and will continue to support and serve Nigerian basketball as I have done in these past 25 or more years.

“I remain equally committed to the success of this current NBBF administration,’’ he said, pledging his continuous support regardless of whether he was “ in an active or reduced role’’. “I urge all to continue to support the NBBF for the uplifting of Nigerian basketball,’’ Bakare said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bakare had served as a coach of the senior national team, D’Tigers in the past. He was in charge of D’Tigers when the team qualified for its first World Championship in Greece in 2008. The coach also took the national team to the last summer Olympic Games held in London.

Bakare, who owns and coaches Ebun Comets Basketball Club of Lagos, one of the oldest clubs in Nigeria’s National Basketball League, also led Nigeria to several African Championships.

In the 1997 African Championship, Nigeria’s national team, under tutelage of Bakare, finished second to host Senegal.

Ayo Bakare, Technical Director, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) on Tuesday in Lagos said that organising regular junior basketball championships in secondary schools would facilitate the discovery of talents.

Bakare made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while reviewing the 15th Akofa Ivy Private Secondary Schools Basketball Championships which ended on Monday. The competition at which 26 secondary schools participated in held at Avi Cenna International School, Ikeja, Lagos.

Bakare told NAN that the junior league would serve as a developmental programme where new talents would be discovered.

“I am happy about the Akofa Ivy League; the young players I have seen here are good enough to feature in the U-16 national teams. The federation is committed to supporting grassroots programmes of this nature and we hope more of this can be sponsored by other private individuals and groups,’’ Bakare said.

The organiser of the league, John Faniran, said that he was proud of the standard of the competition, especially in the female cadre.

“The male and female winners will be going to Europe for a summer tournament in Belgium and Holland in August. I thank our esteemed sponsors, Honeywell Noodles and La-Tesern Pharmaceuticals, the Lagos State Basketball Association and the NBBF for their support. I also want to thank the 26 schools that featured in the competition that began on Feb. 8; it has been a competitive and successful competition,’’ Faniran said.

The International School, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba-Lagos, the defending champions, defeated Avi-Cenna International School, Lagos 39-34 points to emerge winners in the boys’ category.

Avi-Cenna, the defending champions in the girls’ category defeated Vivian Fowler International School, Ikeja 21-17 points to win. In the girls third place match, International School, University of Lagos, defeated Queens College, Yaba, Lagos 10-9 points in overtime after a draw at regulation time.

Sound Hope Academy, Lagos, won the bronze medal for the boys with 31-24 points against White Sand School, Lekki.

Ruth Omotayo of Avi-Cenna, won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the girls’ category, while Chinonso Nwachukwu from the International School, Lagos claimed the MVP in the boys’ category.