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Tag: Tijani Umar

  • NBBF donates food items to orphanage

    NBBF donates food items to orphanage

    The Tijani Umar-led board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation ( NBBF ) has donated foodstuffs, detergents, toiletries and beverages to the Nasarawa Orphanage Home in Kano.

    Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kaduna that the gesture was part of the board’s philosophy of reaching out to the less-privileged.

    He said that the items were jointly purchased by the federation’s board members, comprising past and present basketball players and technical officials.

    Umar, on behalf of the NBBF said the Community Outreach Service was part of the board’s activities in the ongoing Kwese Premier Basketball League Final 8 Championship at the Indoor Hall of the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

    “Today, we identify with the less-privileged to show that we care and willing to support them to aspire and become great in life.

    “This is important to us because we want to contribute to their lives and encourage as well as motivate them to look up to these players and aspire to be like them.

    “Life is all about give and take and we really appreciate and thank the management of the home for taking care of the children.”

    He said the items were delivered to the orphanage by D’Tigers player and Captain of Mark Mentors Abuja, Stanley Gumut.

    Umar pledged more gifts to the orphanage as the board was planning to build a basketball court for the home.

    “We plan to return to the home and build a basketball court, so that they can be motivated and develop interest in basketball.”

    Hajiya Lauriya Sagir, while receiving the items on behalf of the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the management of the home, described the visit as hope for the children.

    “Today, the children see these players as role models and it has given them hope in life to aspire for a better future.”

  • 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.

  • No crisis in Basketball federation, says President

    No crisis in Basketball federation, says President

    The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, said on Thursday that there was no crisis in the federation.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Kida said the crisis was merely a perception of the public.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on June 12, the National Sports Federations Elections for NBBF had two elections one in Kano and another in Abuja.

    The Kano election had Tijani Umar emerge as the president while Kida emerged as president in the Abuja election.

    The Minster of Sports, Solomon Dalung, however, annulled the Kano election on the grounds that it had no backing of the ministry or the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

    FIBA Africa in their letter to the NOC said specifically that it did not recognise any of the two groups, but would send correspondence to only the Musa Kida group.

    The body also gave the NOC and NBBF November as deadline to resolve their differences.

    The NBBF president said, however, that there had been no complaint against any individual in the basketball circle.

    “The perception that there is a crisis is in the minds of a few stakeholders. I don’t see what is happening as crisis,’’ he said.

    On the issue of the letter from FIBA Africa, Kida said that the letter recognised him as the president since they (FIBA) agreed to correspond with him.

    “If you look at the letter, it concluded everything by agreeing to send correspondence through my board and this I think is a proof of acceptance,’’ he said.

    No crisis in Basketball federation, says President

    The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, said on Thursday that there was no crisis in the federation.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Kida said the crisis was merely a perception of the public.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on June 12, the National Sports Federations Elections for NBBF had two elections one in Kano and another in Abuja.

    The Kano election had Tijani Umar emerge as the president while Kida emerged as president in the Abuja election.

    The Minster of Sports, Solomon Dalung, however, annulled the Kano election on the grounds that it had no backing of the ministry or the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

    FIBA Africa in their letter to the NOC said specifically that it did not recognise any of the two groups, but would send correspondence to only the Musa Kida group.

    The body also gave the NOC and NBBF November as deadline to resolve their differences.

    The NBBF president said, however, that there had been no complaint against any individual in the basketball circle.

    “The perception that there is a crisis is in the minds of a few stakeholders. I don’t see what is happening as crisis,’’ he said.

    On the issue of the letter from FIBA Africa, Kida said that the letter recognised him as the president since they (FIBA) agreed to correspond with him.

    “If you look at the letter, it concluded everything by agreeing to send correspondence through my board and this I think is a proof of acceptance,’’ he said.

     

  • Multichoice satisfied with involvement in basketball league

    Multichoice satisfied with involvement in basketball league

    Multichoice Nig Ltd., sponsors of the DStv Men’s Basketball Premier League, on Tuesday said that it was satisfied to be involved in Nigeria’s Basketball League.

    Martins Mabutho, the Head of Marketing and Sales, Multichoice, made the statement at a news conference in Lagos to herald the commencement of the 2013-2014 season. He said Multichoice renewed its sponsorship rights with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) with vigour, adding that it remained committed to the league.

    Mabutho said the renewal of the right in 2013 was to continue to develop the sport in Nigeria and Africa. He noted that the company signed a three-year sponsorship for the 2013 to 2016 seasons.

    “The sponsorship, which is valued at several millions of dollars, was to be utilised for many projects by the NBBF. These include management of the league, technical development, marketing and promotion as well as running of the secretariat,’’ he said.

    Mabutho, however, said that the renewal of the sponsorship rights was not targeted at brand visibility.

    “Our support for the game is hinged on the belief that basketball is on its way to becoming a nationally recognised sport. We also decided to renew the sponsorship because of our love for and toward the growth and development of basketball.

    “Basketball is not just a sport; it is a lifestyle activity that promotes unity among youths; it builds determination and passion, and it is a game which, if well focused on, can empower the youth,’’ he said.

    The NBBF President, Tijani Umar, said at the conference that Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan and Police Baton of Lagos would kick-start the season with a ceremonial match on February 28.

    Umar added that matches would continue on March 7 across the various centres in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Gombe and Kwara.

    “We are happy to be back for a new season which promises to be great and very entertaining. We thank our partners and sponsors, the DStv/Multichoice for unflinching support,’’ he said.

    According to Umar, the newly inaugurated league committee will ensure proper registration of players.

    He said the committee would also ensure that only licensed players and teams would feature in the league.

    “We will be strict against indiscipline and will not allow unlicensed teams or players to feature ,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the eight teams each in the Atlantic and the Savannah Conferences will play 14 matches each in the regular season.

    The first four teams in the two conferences will feature in the Final Eight in Lagos at a yet-to-be decided date. The best two teams at the Final Eight will represent Nigeria in the Continental Club Championship.