Basketball
FIBA Shunned FG’s invitation for Mediation in Nigeria Basketball Crises Thrice-Sports Minister
Joel Ajayi
Minister of Youth and Sports Development Chief Sunday Dare has revealed that the Federation of International Basketball Association(FIBA) refused the overtures of the Federal Government three times to resolve the crises rocking the Nigeria Basketball Federation.
In separate letters dated 26, October, 12 November and 17 November, 2021, the Sports Minister Sunday Dare extended invitations to FIBA to visit the country and mediate the crises.
On October 26, 2021 in a letter addressed to the Secretary General of FIBA-Africa, Mr Andreas Zagklis, the Sports Minister noted that, “Nigeria as a country will be happy to receive and welcome a delegation from FIBA to look into the crisis in the NBBF, or recommend a possible solution and advice in resolving the crisis in the Federation.”
This was followed up with another letter on 21 November, 2021 addressed to Mr Hamane Niang, President of FIBA in which Sunday Dare, the Sports Minister highlighted the following:
“I want to encourage FIBA to continue its correspondences with the Secretary General of the Federation in all matters, and would like to firmly assure you that Nigeria will continue to honour all her continental and International sporting commitments particularly its commitment with FIBA.
“Finally, I am extending once again the invitation which I made in the first and only letter to FIBA to urgently send to Nigeria its team to meet with the Basketball stakeholders.
“This I believe is standard practice and Nigeria Basketball must not be denied this opportunity.”
In the final letter of invitation to the FIBA President, Mr Hamane Niang dated 17 November, 2021, the Minister requested thus in his correspondence, “Finally, I once again extend my invitation to FIBA to visit Nigeria and mediate this situation at hand, or alternatively agree to a video conferencing meeting via Zoom at the earliest possible time.
“As it is with International best practices I strongly believe that FIBA will not deny Nigeria Basketball the opportunity of mediation in order to find a lasting solution to its current situation,” Dare stated.
These are very clear indications of the genuineness of the Federal Government’s intentions to ensure a lasting resolution of all the crises rocking basketball in Nigeria.
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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