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FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup: Team Nigeria departs for Kampala

FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup: Team Nigeria departs for Kampala
By Olanrewaju Akojede
FIBA
Lagos, Nov. 6, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) on Tuesday said that the National 3×3 team had departed the shores of Nigeria to Kampala, Uganda, aboard a Rwanda Air flight from Abuja for the 2019 FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup by 1 p.m.
The Media Officer, NBBF, Afolabi Oni, in a statement in Lagos said that the male team had previously won the inaugural edition while it settled for bronze in the last edition.
“Kano Pillars duo of Godwin David and Lucky Subel alongside Agu Ibeh (Gombe Bulls) and Victor Koko (Rivers Hoopers) made the final men’s team released by the Team’s head coach, Chris Acha.
“For the Women, Zenith Bank Women Basketball League winner, Okah Chinwe of Air Warriors of Abuja will team up with Gloria Umeh (Plateau Rocks), Dangosu Theresa (Customs) and 2019 Africa Games gold medalist, Ifunaya Okoro (First Bank).
“In spite of all four making their debut at the senior level, the team will hope to go a step further and surpass her silver medal finish at the 2017 edition.
“The men’s team won the inaugural edition in 2017 and settled for the bronze medal at the 2018 edition hosted in Lome, Togo,” he said.
Oni added: “The U-18 boys team comprises of Oyedokun Olamilekan (Flygerian Academy), Akomolafe Olamilekan (Kwara Falcons), Mustapha Oyebanji (Kwara Falcons) and Kanyinsola Odufuwa (Hoops and Read)
“Ezebilo Grace (MFM) tops the list of the U-18 girls team alongside John Grace (First Bank), Ubi Majomary (Dolphins) and Godgift Joseph (MFM).
“Meanwhile, the Technical crew headed by Acha will consist of Christopher Okoh, Juliana Akhere, Nnorom Mark while Simon Evbuoman will be the accompanying referee.
“The 12 teams registered for the men´s competition will be divided into 4 pools of 3 teams and will play a round-robin phase leading to a single elimination as of quarter-final games.
“The u-18 boys and girls competition starts on Thursday, Nov. 7, while the men and women’s events will commence on Friday, Nov.8.”
“Nigeria is grouped alongside Niger Republic, Uganda and Burundi in Group B while the girls will battle Egypt, Mali and Kenya in Group A in the U-18 category,” he said. (NAN)
KOJE/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sport

No leadership tussle in NBBF, Kida says

Tussle
Abuja, Sept. 23 (NAN) Musa Kida, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), on Monday in Abuja insisted that the federation was not having any leadership crisis.

Speaking after he and some NBBF board members had a meeting with Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Kida said there was only one NBBF president presently.

“The Nigeria Basketball Federation has only one president and that is Musa Kida. You can go and confirm that on FIBA website.

“It is only the one who gets invited to the FIBA world congress that is the recognised leader of the board.

“As a matter of fact, the recognition of Nigeria as the Best Improved Women’s National Team by FIBA was handed to me as NBBF president.

“There could be problems of different opinions on how to do things and I acknowledge that there are challenges, but there is no leadership tussle,” he said.

Asked where he stood on the purported leadership crisis, Dare told reporters that he was being briefed on the matter and other matters by his team.

“It’s just about 32 to 33 days that I assumed office and I am still being briefed by all my directors at the ministry. I am also meeting with the federations.

“I met with the NFF on Friday and we had a fruitful discussion and today I have met with the NBBF. We have some housekeeping matters to discuss.

“I am going to leave it at that. We are aware of what is happening but above all we have our eyes at the tip of the spear because what is important at this point is the success of our team.

“We will discuss every important issue and look for ways to resolve them,” he said.

Nigeria moved up 10 places in the recently-released FIBA rankings and Kida said he was not surprised, following the antecedents of the national teams at recent tournaments.

“The latest FIBA ranking does not come to me as a surprise. We promised when we came in that we were going to make Nigeria basketball’s best destination in Africa.

“Our female team came eighth in the world at the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup, thus becoming the first team from Africa to reach the knock-out stage,” he said.(NAN)
KIA/ESAN/OLAL
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(Edited by Abiodun Esan and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Democratisation of sports federations, my greatest legacy – Dalung

Democratisation of sports federations, my greatest legacy – Dalung

Legacy
Abuja, April 13, 2019 (NAN) Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, said on Saturday he would like to be remembered as the minister who sanitised sports administration in Nigeria by democratising the operations of federations.

Dalung stated this in his address to delegates at the 2019 NBBF Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Stakeholders’ Forum held in Abuja.

The minister said that notwithstanding, that even his critics would admit that he brought legitimacy to the leadership structures of the various sports federations.

“When I was appointed, many felt I wasn’t the right person for the job. I wasn’t taken seriously and I was considered too unassuming.

“But I wish to be remembered as someone who came to democratise Nigeria’s sports, thus leading it to greater success,” he said.

Over the last two years, Nigeria has witnessed rapid ascendancy in basketball, with the women’s team winning the 2017 Afrobasket Women tournament and becoming the first African side to reach a FIBA World Cup quarter-finals.

The men’s national team also finished runners up in the 2017 Afrobasket Men tournament and became the first team to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Dalung attributed these successes to the effort of his ministry.

“I am impressed by the achievements of the NBBF. In 2017, we began the democratisation of our sports federations.

“The successes and achievements of the NBBF under the present board have validated our decision. The achievements are there for all to see,” Dalung said.

On the NBBF, which has been rocked by a lingering leadership crisis since parallel elections into its board were conducted in 2017, Dalung urged the Musa Kida-led board to seek reconciliation and bring all stakeholders back to the fold.

“I appeal to you to extend a hand of fellowship to aggrieved stakeholders and explore avenues to reach out to them because they are still stakeholders and partners,” Dalung said.

The minister also urged world basketball governing body (FIBA) to disregard any insinuation that the 2017 election into the NBBF board lacked credibility.

“That someone lost or won an election is not a parameter for measuring the success of an election. It is normal for someone to lose or win an election.

“It is normal to disagree, but do you have to destroy what you want to govern because of your disagreement?” Dalung asked rhetorically.

The 2019 NBBF AGM is expected to ratify a new constitution as one of the conditions laid down by FIBA in resolving the federation’s leadership crisis.

Dalung expressed his belief that ratifying the new constitution was key to attracting investment into the sport.

“The democratisation of the NBBF in itself is incomplete without an instrument of authority, which is the constitution.

“A functional governing structure will even encourage sponsors to come in because it is the vision of this administration for sports to become a revenue generating sector,” he said.

The NBBF AGM is attended by delegates from the 36 states of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

There were goodwill messages from the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), FIBA and state basketball associations. (NAN)
KIA/AO/AFA
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Edited by Angela Okisor/Felix Ajide

 

Sport

Avoidable leadership crisis hindering NBBF sponsorship drive – Kida

Avoidable leadership crisis hindering NBBF sponsorship drive – Kida

NBBF
Abuja, April 13, 2019 (NAN) The avoidable leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is telling on the federation’s sponsorship portfolio, according to Musa Kida, NBBF president.

Kida stated this in his welcome address at the 2019 NBBF Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Stakeholders’ Forum on Saturday in Abuja.

The NBBF president said the development was the fallout of the bad blood in the federation following the 2017 elections into its board.

“Against the background of the acrimonious election in 2017, this is indeed a time for sober reflection concerning the state of basketball in the country.

“Our sponsorship portfolio has taken a hit occasioned by the artificial NBBF crisis. However, we continue to make appreciable progress in this area,” Kida said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saturday’s AGM was the first since the 2017 elections into the board of the NBBF.

Two parallel elections were held in Kano and Abuja, leading to the factionalisation of the federation.

Kida, whose faction claims legitimacy, however, reiterated his willingness to work with all basketball stakeholders for the good of the game.

“I wish to state categorically that the present NBBF board is willing to work with each and every basketball stakeholder in Nigeria devoid of any sentiments.

“There is no ‘us’ or ‘them’ and we will continue to do all it takes to carry everyone along,” Kida said.

Kida may be referring to the Tijanni Umar-led NBBF faction, which has refused to recognise the Kida-led board.

Kida, a former Rivers State Basketball Association Chairman, however, urged basketball stakeholders in Nigeria to join hands to enable the game attain its desired height in Nigeria.

He also used the opportunity to enumerate the achievements of NBBF since he took over as head of the board.

He said Nigeria participated in and won the 2017 Afrobasket Women tournament in Mali.

The national women’s basketball team, the D’Tigress, went ahead to become the first African side to reach the quarter-finals of the FIBA Women’s Wold Cup in Spain.

He also stated that Nigeria became the first country to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

The national men’s basketball team, the D’Tigers, also reached the final of the 2017 Afrobasket Men.

In his Goodwill message, Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), said the present NBBF board has ushered in the dawn of a new era in Nigeria’s basketball.

Represented by Francis Orbih, a vice president of the NOC, Gumel commended the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, for engineering the democratisation of sports federations.

“The minister led the democratisation of Nigeria’s sports federations, which has led to the achievements of the NBBF we are celebrating today.

“NBBF’s achievements have made other federations strive for success by desiring to fall in line with the minister’s democratisation,” Gumel said.

He also commended the NBBF for passing a new constitution which he said would be adopted at the AGM by delegates.

Hisham Elhariry, representative of world basketball governing body (FIBA) at the event, described Nigeria as a basketball powerhouse.

“Nigeria is one of the greatest basketball countries in all categories of the game. Nigeria has achieved great success in basketball, especially in the past two years,” he said.

He also congratulated the country for being the first to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

The NBBF 2019 AGM and Stakeholders’ Forum, attended by delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, is expected to officially kick start a new basketball season.

It is also expected that delegates will ratify a new constitution for the federation in line with FIBA’s Statute.(NAN)
KIA/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Sport

Kida-led NBBF insists on holding AGM as scheduled, in spite of legal issues

NBBF
Abuja, April 9, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) on Tuesday insisted it would go ahead with its planned 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) slated for Saturday in Abuja in spite of some legal issues.

The federation being led by the Musa Kida-led faction of the basketball family has in recent weeks been challenged in court by another group of basketball stakeholders.

A legal action filed by the League Management Company (LMC) which runs the Kwese Premier Basketball League (KPBL) had asked the Kida-led NBBF to stop acting on behalf of all stakeholders.

Afolabi Oni, the NBBF Media Officer, in a statement on Tuesday assured that the AGM would hold as scheduled however.

He said the meeting would hold “in spite of stories making the rounds about a possible postponement of the AGM due to a court ruling’’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the KPBL had gone to court to seek the nullification of any basketball activity by the NBBF.

KPBL claimed that the world basketball governing body, FIBA, had nullified the two NBBF elections held in Kano and Abuja in June 2017 and concluded on having new elections.

It had also cited a March 29 judgment delivered by Justice Coram Quadri, which it claimed approved the nullity of both NBBF elections in 2017.

But the Kida-led NBBF described the legal action as the “last attempt by drowning men to confuse enthusiastic stakeholders ahead of the landmark event”.

It said it was worrisome that Josiah Daniel-Ebune, counsel to the KPBL, could be referring to another case which the body he was claiming to represent was not connected to in any way.

“We find it funny that this ….. body is referring to a case instituted by one El Hassan Auwalu and Abdullahi Bello in 2017 seeking to challenge the election that brought us on board.

“It definitely shows that some people whose aim is to disrupt basketball growth in Nigeria have now joined forces and are working together to distract our board by creating artificial crisis,” Kida was quoted as saying in the statement.

The NBBF said “unrecognised entities in the Nigerian basketball family cannot wave an ex parte order around the basketball body in Nigeria without the approval of FIBA’’.

The statement added that Kida’s NBBF had duly notified all relevant law enforcement agencies as a law-abiding citizen to forestall any breakdown of law and order.(NAN)
KIA/ECN/OLAL
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(Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NBBF, Peak Sports review kits sponsorship deal

Review
Abuja, May 30, 2018 (NAN) Chinese sportswear and equipment manufacturer, Peak Sports Products Coy. Limited, has met with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board led by Musa Kida to review its sponsorship deal with Nigeria.

Afolabi Oni, NBBF’s Media Officer, said in a statement on Wednesday that the delegation of Peak Sports to Nigeria was led by its Brand Vice Director, Tony Lin.

“The delegation arrived Nigeria on Sunday and met with the federation on Monday and Tuesday to iron out grey areas surrounding the national basketball teams’ kits sponsorship deal,’’ he said.

“Kida said during the meeting that the development became even more necessary going by the recent stance of FIBA for the NBBF to `organise all aspects (including sporting and commercial) of Nigerian basketball’s international representation’.’’

Oni said the world basketball ruling body had in a letter dated May 28 insisted that all national basketball team-related activities should be carried out by the Kida-led NBBF.

He said the meeting had in attendance NBBF Vice President Babatunde Ogunade and NBBF Zone 3 President Samuel Ahmedu.

The spokesman said the meeting provided the federation the appropriate opportunity to evaluate the commitment of Peak Sports, especially as the existing deal was reached by the former board.

He further stated that it was important to maximise the benefits inherent in the deal.

“Since the former board did not hand over to us, it became pertinent to review all existing contractual agreements entered into by the former board.

“This will help us to ensure that we meet our set objectives and demands as a responsible organisation.

“Our achievements over the last 10 months, consistent participation and success stories have continued to gain global attention with many now taking Nigeria seriously,” Oni further quoted the NBBF president as saying during the meeting.

He said Lin, while responding on behalf of Peak, had said Nigeria was not a country the kit manufacturers would decline an opportunity to work with.

The NBBF spokesman said Lin attributed this to Nigeria’s growing status in basketball.

“We have been closely monitoring the achievements of the various national teams in the last 10 months and we are more than impressed.

“After studying the situation on ground, we thought it best that in the interest of both parties there was a need to meet,” Lin was quoted as saying.(NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

FIBA sets timeline for revision of NBBF Statutes

Timeline

Abuja, May 29, 2018 (NAN) The Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) has set dates for the revision of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Statutes in a bid to resolve the federation’s lingering leadership tussle.

In a letter written to the NBBF addressed to Musa Kida and Tijjani Umar and signed by its Secretary General Patrick Baumann, FIBA said the revision of NBBF Statutes was one of the necessary steps before fresh elections.

“The process of reviewing the NBBF Statutes shall be under FIBA’s directions…

“During the revision process, FIBA will consult with both parties and other important stakeholders in Nigerian basketball,” the letter stated.

According to the letter, consultation with relevant stakeholders must be completed on July 30, 2018, while deadline for the first revision of the Statutes was set at August 31, 2018.

Deadline for another round of consultation with stakeholders is on September 14, 2018, before a final review and approval of new Statutes by FIBA on October 15, 2018.

FIBA said this process has to be accomplished “before elections are contemplated”, although the preliminary timeline is subject to change at the association’s discretion.

FIBA also directed Kida and Umar to submit the versions of the NBBF’s Statutes in their possession to it by Monday, June 4, 2018.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kida and Umar have been at loggerheads after parallel elections into the board of the NBBF were held in Kano and Abuja on June 12 and 13, 2017 respectively.

However, FIBA insisted it would continue to communicate with Kida and the board elected on June 13 as representatives of the NBBF. (NAN)

KIA/AFA

Edited by Felix Ajide

 

Sport

NBBF debunks rumour of extraordinary AGM, rolls out basketball programmes Thursday

Basketball

Abuja, April 23, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has said it would roll out its programmes for the year 2018 on Thursday in Lagos.

Secretary-General of the federation, Chimezie Asiegbu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that upon the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, the NBBF was now ready to reveal its activities for the year.

“This week (on Thursday) we are rolling out the NBBF programmes, including plans for the premier basketball league, National Divisions 1 and 2 and the women’s league.

“The Commonwealth Games is over and we have all settled down now and are ready to hit the group running.

“By Thursday, you will get to know all our plans for the year, including plans for the next round of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and everything else,” Asiegbu said.

NAN reports that with the unveiling of NBBF’s programmes, the Divisions 1 and 2 leagues conducted by the Tijani Umar-led group in March might have been nullified.

The championships ended on Sunday, March 18 in Ilorin, with Abuja All Stars and Showtime Hoopers winning the Division 1 and Division 2 leagues respectively.

Confirming the development to NAN on Monday, NBBF media officer, Oni Afolabi, said the immediate task before the federation was the unveiling of its activities.

“What is currently in the offing is the rolling out of the NBBF programmes, which takes place on Thursday.

“The rolling out of programmes involves our plans for the various basketball leagues as well as partnerships and other activities,” Oni emphasised.

He however debunked a report making the rounds that the federation was planning to organise an extraordinary AGM soon.

“It is not true that the NBBF is planning an extraordinary Annual General meeting anytime soon. The information definitely didn’t emanate from the NBBF.

“However, there are plans to have the AGM to ratify a new constitution but no date has been fixed yet.

“I can assure you that the constitution drafting committee is working quietly to come up with a constitution.

“As soon as that is done, there will be an AGM so that stakeholders can come together to deliberate on the provisions of the draft constitution and ratify it.”

The NBBF had, through its secretary-general, informed NAN on March 29 that elections into the board of the federation would be conducted as soon as a new constitution was drafted.

He said it was only proper for the NBBF to fully comply with the directive of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). (NAN)

KIA/DE/MZA

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Maharazu Ahmed

 

Sport

Fresh elections to hold after FIBA’s ratification of new NBBF Constitution, secretary-general says

Elections
Abuja, March 29, 2018 (NAN) Secretary-General of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Chimezie Asiegbu, on Thursday said elections into the board of the federation would be conducted as soon as a new Constitution was drafted.

Asiegbu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that it was only proper for the NBBF to fully comply with the directive of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

“There must be a Constitution before the elections. The letter written to us by FIBA says there has to be a Constitution first. We will first of all get our Constitution ready before the elections.

“It is only proper to take care of that first. Fresh elections into the federation’s board will come up after we submit a draft of the Constitution to FIBA and it is ratified,” he said.

The world basketball governing body had, in a letter to the NBBF, directed that fresh elections be conducted and also called for a new Constitution which would strictly reflect FIBA’s regulations.

The letter, signed by FIBA’s Secretary-General Patrick Bauman, stated that the elections held in Kano on June 12 violated article 9.3 of the FIBA statutes.

It also said the elections held in Abuja on June 13 failed to adhere to article 9.7 of the FIBA statutes.

NAN reports that the Abuja elections had seen Musa Kida emerging as the NBBF president, while Tijani Umar was the winner of the Kano elections the previous day.

FIBA’s decision came after a fact-finding mission of January, when it met with both factions in a bid to resolve the leadership crisis facing the NBBF.

Both Kida and Umar have since welcomed FIBA’s decision and promised to comply with its directives.

Asiegbu however said a committee had to be set up first before machinery would be set in motion to commence the Constitution-drafting process.

“The Kida-led NBBF has to set up a committee first to look into it. But I can assure that things will work out well.

“We are genuinely interested in resolving this issue so that Nigerian basketball can move forward,” he added.

On the XXI Commonwealth Games holding in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4, the secretary-general assured Nigerians that the national male basketball team, D’Tigers, would give their best.(NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Just-concluded national championships illegal, NBBF Secretary-General says

Championships
Abuja, March 19, 2018 (NAN) The Secretary-General of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Chimezie Asiegbu, on Monday said the just-concluded National Divisions 1 and 2 Leagues held in Ilorin, Kwara State were illegal.

Asiegbu said the recent letter by the Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) advising that fresh election be conducted into the NBBF board has nullified the championships.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the NBBF has already reported the Tijani Umar-led group to the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports for organising an illegal competition.

“Of course, the latest decision by FIBA will affect the so-called league. It is illegal for them to organise any competition on behalf of the NBBF.

“In the letter FIBA wrote to us in July 2017, it was clearly spelt out that all basketball-related organisational issues should be handled by the Kida-led NBBF,” he said.

NAN reports that the NBBF which has Asiegbu as its Secretary-General is being run by the NBBF group led by Musa Kida, while Umar leads the other NBBF faction.

FIBA had on March 15, in a letter by its Secretary-General, Patrick Bauman, called for fresh elections into the NBBF board as the only way to resolve the body’s ongoing crisis.

The Umar-led NBBF board has since then assured that it would continue with its activities in view of the FIBA decision.

Umar had stated that since FIBA did not recognise either of the elections held last June and, pending fresh election, his board would continue with its activities.

His group was by then holding the National Divisions 1 and 2 Championships in Ilorin.

The championships had ended on Sunday in Ilorin, with the Abuja All Stars and Showtime Hoopers winning the Division 1 and Division 2 leagues respectively.

Regarding preparations for the XX1 Commonwealth Games holding in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4 to April 15, Asiegbu said Nigeria’s national basketball team, D’Tigers, were ready for the event.

“Preparations for the Commonwealth Games are in top gear. The team is ready and players are in good shape. The team will depart on Friday for Australia and we have high expectations,” he said.(NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)