Basketball
I Have What It Takes to Fix Nigerian Basketball, Demands Free NBBF Election — Ugboaja
By Joel Ajayi
Former Nigerian basketball international, Ejike Christopher Ugboaja, has declared his intention to contest for the presidency of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), saying he has the experience and commitment required to rebuild the sport.
Ugboaja, who made the declaration at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said his priority would be to restore regular league competitions, strengthen grassroots development and create more opportunities for young Nigerian players.
“I have played for Nigeria for a long time. Basketball changed my life and took me out of the streets. That is why I want to give back and take more young people out of the streets through basketball,” he said.
The former international said Nigerian basketball needed a sustained domestic league capable of developing players and preparing them for international competition.
He proposed an expanded Premier League season of about eight months, alongside stronger basketball programmes in secondary schools and universities.
“We now play a league for two weeks. When I was playing, we had a league that could take us on road trips and lasted for months. We need to bring that system back,” he said.
Ugboaja also promised to improve the pathway for home-based players into the national teams, while giving greater attention to grassroots basketball.
He said his experience as a player and his personal support for Nigerian athletes had given him firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing the sport.
On the forthcoming NBBF election, Ugboaja demanded a free, transparent and inclusive process, insisting that all qualified aspirants should be given equal opportunity to contest.
He alleged that attempts were being made to influence the composition of some state basketball associations ahead of the election and urged stakeholders to respect the federation’s constitution.
“I don’t want to fight about the past. I want us to move forward, bring everybody together and do basketball,” he said.
Ugboaja added that his ambition was to unite stakeholders and build a functional basketball structure that connects grassroots, schools, universities and professional basketball.
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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