Basketball
Group Urges Presidency to probe embezzlement of $2.2m Kwese deal
Coming quickly on the heels of the news published online which denied the alleged embezzlement of the $2.2m dollars paid to former NBBF president Tijani Umar, by Econet for the botched Kwese Nigeria Male Basketball League, a group of journalists, stakeholders and concerned sports enthusiasts under the aegis of Friends of Nigeria Sports (FNS), in a press release have reacted to what it termed miscalculated attempt to deny and mislead the public.
In the release countering the refutal of alleged embezzlement of the Kwese $2.2 m dollars, Asiwaju Akeem Busari, spokesperson for FNS, demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari launch a full blown investigation into the matter, in line with the government’s avowed zero-tolerance for corruption.
“Earlier this week a denial was published online by some foot soldiers of Tijani Umar, describing the allegation of embezzlement of the Kwese funds as fake news. We’re not surprised. That was a desperate attempt to deny an obvious crime against basketball and the people of Nigeria,” Busari remarked.
“As genuinely concerned Nigerians, we want Nigerians and particularly, the presidency to ask these pertinent questions from Tijani Umar and his past NBBF board, which NBBF account was the Kwese money paid into?
“Tijani Umar should explain why he did not hand over the funds to the new board that succeeded him? We understand that if the money was paid into a private account, it is crime with jail term consequences.
” If not ,then he should explain why did he not return the money to Kwesse since not up to half of the Kwese league was played before they took the case to court that stopped the new board from holding the league for over 3 years.
“We demand that he also explain why did they go for the subsequent installments when they knew that they were not the legitimate board. Yet, they failed to declear the amounts to the new board. We understand too, that they still did not pay the money into any of the accounts operated by NBBF for transparency and this is blatant case of fraud,” he added.
Asiwaju Busari, recalled how Tijani Umar boasted on a national television that he refused to pay the Kwesse money into the NBBF account to prevent former sports minister Dalung and the ministry officials from calling for the money to be shared.
FNS emphatically demanded that Nigerians and the government should ask Tijani Umar to provide documents as it concerns the whereabout of these huge funds collected on behalf of NBBF and was never declared or retired.
“Until he respond to these demands publicly, Tijani Umar, who is the State House Permanently Secretary, cannot be exonerated from this financial scandal and crime.
“The crimes are enough to attract immediate dismissal from service and jail term. We also knew that Tijani Umar is a federal civil servant who has stayed beyond stipulated service years and should have retired long time ago,” he concluded.
[2:57 PM, 12/5/2021] Patrick Ngowgwu: Gwagwalada Football Coaches Reward Stakeholders… NLO, NNL also
The Gwagwalada Football Coaches Council at the weekend held its maiden award night to among other things, recognized those who have contributed positively to the development of football in the Area Council.
Welcoming the visitors to the event, the Leader of Gwagwalada Football Coaches Council Barrister Justice Ayodele said the event becomes imperative considering the impact the various individuals have made in the development of the game at the council. He said that the efforts of these individuals have gone a long way to curb various societal vices in the locality. He appreciated them and implored them not to relent in supporting the youths in attaining their desired heights in the game of football.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Football Council Ibrahim Bako, said the award ceremony came at a very auspicious time, that Gwagwalada needed to appreciate the efforts of the the leaders past. He commended the leadership of the Coaches Council for coming up with the idea of rewarding those that have worked tirelessly in putting Gwagwalada in a positive picture of Nigeria Football.
Among the awardees who were present were the Patron of Gwagwalada Football Coaches, Justice Mwanda Balami, who was also the Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi, Barrister Ahmed Jalingo, Coach Godwin Bamigboye, Prince Lugard Oyewole, Coach Daniel Oromade who was the first Chairman of FCT Football Coaches, Patrick Ngwaogu who was the first Leader of Gwagwalada Coaches, Thompson Ojukwu, the first Secretary of Gwagwalada Football Coaches Council, Patrick Bassey, the first Gwagwalada player to play up to the national level, and now an U. 15 National team Coach among others.
Special awards were given to Nigeria National League and Nationwide League One.
Basketball
Fresh Ideas, Science Needed to Revitalise Basketball —ABA
Cyril Ogar
President/Founder, Amateur Basketball Academies, ABA, Aliyu Lucky Abubakar has called for a scientific and pragmatic approach to rediscovering the game of basketball in the North East.
The former player of many teams in Nigeria stated this on Saturday during training of coaches in Yola, Adamawa State.
Aliyu said the training is aimed to arm Coaches so they can, in turn, reach the children, especially those that ABA may not. The Deputy Comptroller in Nigeria Customs Service decried non-challant attitudes of the stakeholders in the development of basketball in the North East.
” Basketball is fading in the North East, and we at ABA will not allow it to die.”
“Adamawa was once a force in the game of basketball but had fallen behind. Our plan is to discover talent through coaching training, nurture it, and carry it from state level to the national team, and eventually, the global stage.” The basketball administrator said.
In his keynote message to the participants, which centered on the theme, “HOPE,” Harnessing opportunity, Organising for excellence, Promoting players’ development, and Empowering the next generation, Aliyu said, is far more than a drill instructors.
” Every child you see on a basketball court has a dream, and it is our job as a coach to spot it early and give it somewhere to go.” He concluded.
In his lecture titled, ” Who is a Coach”, Emmanuel Odah, the head Coach, FCT Basketball and former National Juniors team, described a coach as a committed, organised, affectionate, caring and humble.
” Commitment is consistency, and consistency is mother of progress; humility comes first because a coach who can not control himself can never control a game,” Odah insisted.
Other instructors at the training include ABA head of technical, Coach Adeka Daudu, as well as Coach Alexander Anyebe Ujoh, who spoke about the relationship between a coach and child in his care.
Coaches at the training commended ABA for its boldness to give hopes to basketball coaches all over the country. They promised that lessons learned would reshape and reset their mind on the job. They said the training will help them in understanding their role not only as an instructor but also grooming the children for a better future.
Among guests at the event include FCT Acting Director of Sports, Mr. Iyiola Ogundele and Bayelsa Veteran Basketball administrator, Coach Tony
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