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Mark ‘D’ Basketball Tournament Will Be Back Soon-Mark

Published

2 years ago

November 18, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The initiator and founder of Mark ‘D’ Basketball Championship, Igoche Mark, has assured that the much-anticipated tournament is set to return in Abuja soon with a bang.

Mark said this during the 2023 Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational tournament’s final at the Mo Arena in Abuja on Friday said that the championship Mark ‘D’ Ball Basketball Championship, which had helped to resurrect the moribund domestic basketball in the country, took a short break due to some circumstances beyond the control of the organizers.

He promised that the next edition of the basketball tournament would be the best ever, adding that plans were ongoing to ensure that it surpassed the previous tournaments.

The plans, he said, included improving the quality of the tournament, the venue, and welfare of players, coaches, and officials, the number of participating teams as well and the competition’s prize money.

“Let me use this medium to inform all stakeholders that the next edition of the Mark ‘D’ Ball Basketball Championship will become a reference point in Africa.

“We are currently working on using a new basketball arena for the championship, which was one of the reasons for the break.

“But by the grace of God, we are excited that we have one now as the Mo Arena just opened.

“So, we are in discussion with the owner as we intend to use this magnificent facility for our next tournament,” he said.

He restated his commitment towards the growth and development of grassroots basketball in the country.

He stressed that his love for the game was undying, adding that he would continue to support the discovery and development of young talents across the country.

“The Mark ‘D’ Ball brand and its affiliations have contributed so much to the game of basketball in the country and will continue to contribute to the sustainable development of basketball at the grassroots.

“Our little impact in the game of basketball last year was as a result of a partnership with stakeholders; players, coaches among others, and we will continue to contribute our own little quota,” he said.

Mark also commended Oguche for his consistent contribution towards the development of basketball at the grassroots.

He said the zest and commitment that the former Nigeria basketball international has shown towards giving back through basketball was a virtue others must emulate.

“This is very impressive. I think this is about his second or third tournament this year and they have been improving each time.

“I am also excited about the discovery and development of the young talents in the competition over the years.

“We need more of such tournaments right now so that the players can come out and showcase their talents and that will also help them improve their game.”

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Fatimah Olukoju’s AFN Board Seat Challenged Over Eligibility Concerns

Published

2 hours ago

June 9, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

A petition has been submitted to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the National Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS), and the National Sports Commission (NSC) challenging the eligibility of former Nigerian sprinter Fatimah Yusuf Olukoju to contest for the position of NAWIS Representative on the AFN board.

The petition, reportedly authored by Dr. Nneka Anibeze, Olukoju’s sole opponent in the just-concluded elections, alleges that Olukoju does not meet the criteria set forth by the association’s statutes and should have been disqualified from the contest.

In the election held on Monday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Olukoju emerged victorious, securing 30 votes out of 45, while Anibeze garnered 15.

Speaking after the election, Dr. Anibeze expressed dissatisfaction with the process, citing irregularities, including the disqualification of some contestants and delegates.

“Prior to the election, I raised concerns over several irregularities in the voting process,” she said. “Before Maria Wohfi was disqualified, I pointed to Article 7.0 of the AFN guidelines and 5.0 of the National Sports Commission’s guidelines, which state that even if you’re not living in Nigeria, you must provide evidence of residency in the country for at least six months prior to the election.”

According to her, these concerns were ignored by the NAWIS leadership.

“Last night, I told them I would file a protest, and they tried to dissuade me. But I’m not someone who causes trouble—I just wanted a fair process. So I submitted my protest letter and sent it to the Electoral Petition Committee. I also copied the AFN, NAWIS, and the Director-General of the NSC.”

She further alleged that several of her delegates from Gombe, Niger, and Bayelsa states were disqualified without valid reasons.

“They were simply told they weren’t eligible to vote. The ones who did vote are those they couldn’t disqualify because of their standing. But I’ve submitted my protest. My main concern is that she [Olukoju] was not eligible to contest in the first place. I trust the authorities will do justice.”

In response, NAWIS President Mariam Sulieman described the election as free and fair and urged all members to support the winner in advancing the goals of women and girls in sports.

Reacting to the petition, Sulieman stated that the Electoral Committee had not yet officially received any formal complaint. However, the Secretary of the AFN confirmed that a petition had indeed been submitted.

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