NAN-S-15
Competitions
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) A cross section of stakeholders in basketball have called on the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) to organise more competitions for the development of the sport at the grassroots.
They spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to them, lack of competitions is a major challenge in growing young basketball players.
Ken Mfon, Coach of Impression Basketball Academy of Asaba , told NAN that apart from the Milo Championship, there was no other championship for the youths.
“The Division One and Two is not enough, because aside the Milo competition there is no other competition. This is not good for the game.
“The NBBF and the state governments should organise competitions. We can have NBBF President Cup, Governors Cup and other competitions that will keep the kids active.
“There should be nothing less than five to six competitions in a year before the Division one and two competition. This will prepare the athletes adequately for the league,’’ he said.
Steve Onisela, Coach of Harmony Blazers Basketball of Kwara, called on the NBBF to expand the league to have a division three, adding that division one and two were not enough for the growth of the game.
“There is need to have more competitions as the Milo competition alone is not helping the players.
“They play the Milo competition and wait to get promoted or selected to take part in the DSTV Basketball.
“This takes a long time and it does not give players opportunity to showcase their potential,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Ajibarede Bello, NBBF’s Technical Commissioner, said that lack of fund hindered the federation from organising competitions.
He said that the federation hardly got sponsors for its programmes, hence the lack of competitions.
Bello called on corporate bodies to support the game through sponsorship, which could come in any form. (NAN)
DE/DOE/SOA
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle