Basketball

NBBF Ban : Grassroot Basketball will not develop without international Competitions… Hughley Reacts

Published

3 years ago

June 11, 2022

“What they have done to these girls and want to invest in grassroot is absurd. First of all , you can do grassroot Basketball while still playing international Competition.

International Competition is what Inspires a lot of grassroot players from the beginning to want to play the game in the first place”.

Hughley the senior coach of the Nigeria’ Women Basketball team could not help but utter his thoughts aloud trying to understand the rationale of placing a self inflicted ban on international Basketball for two years by the Federal Government.

In a recent interview , Hughley also said he is yet to get any payment from his outstanding bonuses for coach the Nigerian Women Basketball team.

Hughley is being owed for the FIBA women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Serbia held in February and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Before then Musa Kida had been paying him on tournament basis when his contract was not renewed after the 1 year expiration.

” I have not heard anything from the Minister who have promised to pay me severally, without meeting it. He told Queen Moseph .

Hughley, whose instant value upon arrival in the team can not be swept under the carpet, as he took over the team seven weeks before the the 2018 FIBA women’s World Cup in Spain where he led the team to an eight place finish at the world cup , a first by an African team. He also won back to back Afro basket titles, qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and the 2020 world cup in Australia while recording an historic win over France.

All these feats bear no value as FIBA replaced D’ tigress with Mali at the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup in Australia scheduled for September 22 , 2022 because of a self inflicted two years international ban on Basketball by the Federal Government.

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Basketball

Bauchi FA Chairman Patrick Pascal Honoured at Be Happy Basketball Tournament

Published

2 months ago

January 21, 2025

The Gleamer

Bauchi State Football Association Chairman, Patrick Pascal, was honored at the recently concluded Be Happy Basketball Tournament in Bauchi. The annual event, sponsored by former basketball international Danjuma Maijama’a Wunti, brought together over 13 basketball teams from across Nigeria for a week of exciting competition.

The 2025 edition of the tournament saw Suns Basketball Academy of Jos emerge as champions, clinching the top prize of ₦500,000. Adamawa Stars of Yola finished second, while Mak-Town Flyers of Makurdi claimed third place, earning ₦200,000 for their efforts.

Several standout players received individual accolades:

•   Most Valuable Player (MVP): Rayyan Salis (Suns Basketball Academy, Jos).
•   Most Improved Player: Modupe Lawrence (Mak-Town Flyers, Makurdi).
•   Best Defensive Player: Thomas Abo (Mak-Town Flyers, Makurdi).
•   Highest Scorer: Rayyan Salis (Suns Basketball Academy).
•   Best 3-Point Shooter: Solomon Iliya (Be Happy Stars, Bauchi).

Teams from across Nigeria took part, including Maktown Flyers (Makurdi), Joe Geez (Jos), Adamawa Stars (Yola), Gamji (Maiduguri), Elite Basketball Club (Takum), Suns Basketball Academy (Jos), Abba Gida Gida (Kano), Katsina United (Katsina), D Block Basketball Club (Kaduna), Yankari Kings (Bauchi), The Cubs Basketball Club (Bauchi), and Be Happy Stars (Bauchi).

Speaking on his recognition, Patrick Pascal expressed gratitude to the tournament sponsor, Danjuma Maijama’a Wunti, for his commitment to youth empowerment and development through sports. He praised the players for their remarkable display of skill and teamwork throughout the competition, highlighting the event’s importance in fostering talent and unity.

The Be Happy Basketball Tournament continues to grow in stature as a major platform for discovering and nurturing basketball talent across Nigeria.

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