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  • NBBF throws open Zenith Women Basketball League slots

    Ahead of the new basketball season, the Nigeria Basketball Federation has called on interested individuals and corporate entities to apply for slots in the Zenith Bank sponsored Women’s Basketball League.

    Rising from its board meeting held in Lagos on Monday, the federation said that in line with the mission statement of the federation, interested teams are encouraged to register their teams ahead of the2019 season.

    The NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida said “For us, we are looking to expand and make sure we accommodate as many teams as possible”.

    With the NBBF Secretariat currently attending to numerous applications and interest letters, Kida said the process for the final selections will be free and fair to all.

    “I am quite happy with what I see in terms of response and I just want everybody to be rest assured that anybody who expresses interest will surely be considered and given a chance to participate. The smallest women’s team that can express interest in participating in the league will be given the chance”, Kida assured.

    Read Also: NBBF sacks D’Tigress coach, Vincent

    Knowing fully well that there is a risk of oversubscription following the continued growth of basketball in Nigeria, the NBBF board said it is ready to consider and accommodate all genuine clubs.

    “If we have an oversubscription, we are ready to consider everybody in a way that they will participate and after we would have the numbers of teams that we require for the league.”

    The Zenith Women’s Basketball League will tip off on July 1.

  • NBBF sacks D’Tigress coach, Vincent

    The Nigeria Basketball Federation ( NBBF ) has ended its relationship with the Head Coach of the Senior Women’s Basketball team, Sam Vincent.

    NBBF Media Officer, Afolabi Oni, in a statement on Friday said the decision was taken after extensive consultations and assessment of the team’s progress in camp ahead of the 2018 FIBA Women World Cup in Tenerife, Spain.

    A a letter signed by the NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida, said the decision was taken in the best interest of all parties involved and the long term interest of the D’Tigress.

    NBBF stated that the numerous conflicting commitments of the 55-year-old coach had affected his duties as the coach of the women national team.

    It quoted the letter stating in part that, “The NBBF has been monitoring the situation in Atlanta closely and we are not satisfied with a lot of things.

    ”You left the National Women’s Team Camp in Atlanta since Friday July 27, 2018, without permission from anybody and you have continuously remained absent.

    ”Following investigations, the 2017 Afrobasket winning coach was found guilty of abandoning the team due to other conflicting professional engagements within the United States of America where the team is currently camped.

    ”In view of the importance of giving the team the best of preparation for the World Cup as to make a mark in Spain, the NBBF decided it needed a coach who will spend more time in camp preparing the team.

    Read Also: NBBFstakeholders meeting: Constitution drafting committee to begin work – Kida

    “Be informed that you are hereby relieved of your appointment as our National Women’s Coach, to allow you concentrate better on your other activities.”

    The NBBF thanked Vincent for qualifying the team for the World Cup by winning the 2017 Afrobasket Championship in Atlanta and wished him all the best in his future endeavors.

    The board has promised to compensate him for the services rendered while with the team.

    In the meantime, D’Tigress assistant coach, Peter Ahmedu will take charge of team’s preparation for the World Cup to be assisted by Sola Shomala until a new coach is appointed.

  • FIBA: We are ready for new elections – Umar

    Tijjani Umar, factional President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), on Friday said that he would obey the decision of the Executive Committee of the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) for a fresh election.

    Umar told our reporter on phone that he was excited about FIBA’s decision and that it would go a long way in resolving the crisis rocking the federation.

    “We are prepared for new elections whenever FIBA chooses to organise the elections as it would really resolve the crisis in the federation.

    “We had observed an election in line with the FIBA Statutes from which the Nigeria Basketball Federation Constitution was derived.

    “The election held in Kano on June 12, 2017 and the results of the election should have been endorsed by FIBA.

    “However, as a body, we respect the reconciliation effort of FIBA and have identified a new election as the only way for a fair and equitable settlement of the dispute.

    “We accept the directive of FIBA for a fresh election based on the NBBF Statutes and overseen by FIBA without interference from any third party,’’ Umar said.

    A three-man fact-finding team had visited Nigeria in February, led by Dr Alphonse Bile, and met with the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

    They also met with the two factional leaders of the NBBF, Tijjani Umar and Musa Kida, before arriving at the decision to organise fresh polls.

    However, the leadership of the Umar led group had continued to stir the ship of the federation by organising the Premier leagues for men and women and the National Division One and Two leagues.

    Meanwhile, the Kida led board had also been consciously involved in organising the national teams for international championships which brought about Nigeria winning the 2017 Afrobasket women championships trophy in Mali.

    NAN

  • NBBF invites 20 for Commonwealth Games preparation

    NBBF invites 20 for Commonwealth Games preparation

    20 players have been invited by the Nigeria Basketball Federation for the first phase of camping ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

    In a memo signed by the Secretary General of the NBBF, Chimezie Asiegbu and sent to the respective clubs, the camping exercise  which will be supervised by the duo of D’Tigers assistant coaches, Abdulrahman Mohammed of Gombe Bulls and Aderemi Adewunmi of Kwara Falcons will open in Lagos on the 5th of January, 2017.

    The 20 man list is dominated by 7 players from Kano Pillars while Gombe Bulls who recently made their continental debut have 4 players in the provisional list.

    Mark Mentors of Abuja have 2 players while ASPAC basketball club of Benin, Rivers Hoopers, Bauchi Nets, Kwara Falcons, Niger Potters and Civil Defenders of Abuja all have 1 player each on the list.

    Also on the list is Bulls inspirational captain, Yakubu Abdulwahab, Mark Mentors reliable leader, Usman Musa and Kano Pillars 3points legend, Usman Abubakar.

    A member of the 2017 Afrobasket silver winning team and Most Valuable Player of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 club championship elimination, Abdul Yahaya was expectedly recalled to the fold alongside Dike Azouma who powered the D’Tigers to their first 3×3 continental trophy in 2017.

    Pillars Captain, Ogenyi Mathew will also have a chance to fight for national team jersey alongside fast rising Okpe Ocheibi Victor who was named as part of the starting 5 during the club championship elimination.

    The D’Tigers will be participating in the XXI commonwealth Games, 2018 Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia between 4 and 15 April, 2018.

    Players and Officials are expected to report to camp with their training kits and travelling documents as traveling arrangements and registration of players are expected to commence immediately.

    Full list of invited players

    1.            YAKUBU ABDULWAHAB                 – GOMBE BULLS

    2.            USMAN MUSA MOHAMMED        –  MARK MENTORS

    3.            USMAN ABUBAKAR                         – KANO PILLARS

    4.            SALIU PRECIOUS OSIGBODI            – ASPAC

    5.            OKPE OCHEIBI VICTOR                    – MARK MENTORS

    6.            OKEKE JAMIL                                     – GOMBE BULLS

    7.            OGENYI MATHEW                            – KANO PILLARS

    8.            KOKO VICTOR ANTHONY                – RIVER HOOPERS

    9.            ISTIFANUS YAKUBU SYLVANUS     – GOMBE BULLS

    10.          DUNG ELI ABRAHAM                       –  KANO PILLARS

    11.          DIKE AZUOMA                                  – KANO PILLARS

    12.          AKITA AKPATA                                  – BAUCHI NETS

    13.          ADEMOLA DELE DANIEL                 – KANO PILLARS

    14.          ABDUL YAHAYA                                – KANO PILLARS

    15.          DENNIS IBIKORO                              –  UNATTACHED

    16.          GODWIN DAVID                               – KWARA FALCON

    17.          IBE ABUCHI AGU                              – GOMBE BULLS

    18.          GIDEON GEORGE                             – NIGER POTTERS

    19.          SUBEL LUCKY                                    – KANO PILLARS

    20.          JOEL EJIGBA                                      – DEFENDERS

    OFFICIALS

    1.            ABDULRAHMANMOHAMMED   – COACH

    2.            ADEWUMI ADEREMI                    – COACH

  • NBBF to fix minimum wage for League players

    NBBF to fix minimum wage for League players

  • Kwese Premier League winners to take home N45m

    Kwese Premier League winners to take home N45m

    Winners of the 2017 edition of the Kwese Premier Basketball League will take home N45 million in prizes.

    This was disclosed by Tijani Umar, the factional president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, on Wednesday at a news conference in Kano.

    “KPL champions will get N20 million cash prize, while the second placed will get N15 million and the third, N10 million,” he said.

    He said that the prize money was approved by the sponsors, and was aimed at ensuring that Nigerian basketball players and their officials are treated like true professionals.

    Umar said that the prize money approved would go a long way in motivating the players and their clubs.

    “The prize money will help and motivate the players and also give them a sense of belonging,” he said.

    ‎He thanked Kwese for helping to truly transform Nigerian basketball and also for their continued confidence in the Federation despite the crisis.

    ‎On the leadership crisis in the NBBF, Umar revealed that the NOC has called a meeting to hold in Abuja on Thursday to begin the road to resolution of the issue.

    “The issue in Nigerian basketball cannot be wished away, it cannot also be swept under the carpet. We must sit on a round table to reach a resolution and if that doesn’t work, we are ready for fresh elections,” he said.

    Kano Pillars, Gombe Bulls, Hoops and Read and Kwara Falcons are the four clubs in contention for the big prize money.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new sponsors of the competition increased the prize money for the winner from N1.5 million to N20 million.

    The semi finals will hold on Thursday and the final will hold on Saturday.

  • Buhari congratulates D’Tigress on African Basketball victory

    Buhari congratulates D’Tigress on African Basketball victory

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the national female basketball team, D’Tigress, on winning the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament in Mali and qualifying for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain.

    Buhari also joined other sports-loving Nigerians in saluting the heroic performance of the victorious D’Tigress over their Senegalese counterpart in the final of the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament on Sunday.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, commended the players for displaying uncommon strength, confidence, skill and dexterity in their victory over the defending champions.

    He urged members of the team and their handlers to remain focused and dedicated even as they prepare for greater glory to Nigeria at the forthcoming FIBA World Cup.

    The President assured the team, its managers and the Nigeria Basketball Federation of his support and that of the Federal Government to ensure that they excel against other top competitors in Spain.

  • Sports Ministry Declares NBBF Factional Election Illegal

    Sports Ministry Declares NBBF Factional Election Illegal

    The Ministry of Youth and Sports on Monday announced that the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elections held in Kano was illegal.

    Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Solomon Dalung disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    Ikem-Anibeze was reacting to the NBBF elections held in Kano by a faction led by the immediate past president of the Federation, Tijani Umar.

    According to her, the election in Kano has no backing of the Ministry. It is a faction led by Tijani Umar that held illegitimate elections in Kano.

    “The NBBF will hold elections Tuesday alongside 31 others sports federations in Abuja,” she said.

    NAN reports that the election saw Tijani Umar, the North-East representative, as President while Olumide Oyedeji, FIBA World Representative, emerged Vice-President.

    NAN reports that the June 12 elections in Kano came ahead of the one being organised by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports.

    The ministry had fixed Tuesday for elections into all boards of the national sports federations in the country, with all the federations expected to comply.

    But a disagreement had emerged over the issue of whether or not the ministry has the right to draw up guidelines for the federations.

    NAN reports that the federations are, according to international sports federations’ standards, to be run by constitution/statutes/guidelines duly agreed to by all stakeholders in the federation.

    NBBF had earlier insisted it would conduct its elections based on the guideline prescribed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the basketball world governing body.(