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Tag: NBBF

  • NBBF President Igoche Marks Hails D’Tigress Heroic Display against China

    NBBF President Igoche Marks Hails D’Tigress Heroic Display against China

    President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF, Mr.Igoche Mark has hailed the heroic display of the nation’s Senior Women Basketball team, D’Tigress; and the team’s Coaching crew in their first game against the Peoples Republic of China at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Belgrade, Serbia.

    The reigning African Champions lost 76- 90 to the Asian giants, who are at present, the 7th ranked team in the world.

    Mr. Mark commended the team for their courage and resilience during the tension soaked game, and charged the ladies to take positives from the loss, which he described as a stepping stone to a better outing in their next game against European heavyweights France, on Friday.

    “I must commend you for for showing courage; and giving the game against China their all…. The result not withstanding, let’s see it as a stepping stone towards a better outing in your next game. All I can tell you is that if you are never on the losing side, you are never truly tested, and may never be forced to grow. Pick up yourselves, go conquer France!” Mark stated.

    A total of 16 countries are presently in Serbia slugging it out in the qualifiers, for slots at the FIBA World Cup scheduled to hold from September 22 to October 1, 2022, in Australia.

  • 2021 Afrobasket Qualifiers: Mfon Udofia to lead D’Tigers to Tunisia

    2021 Afrobasket Qualifiers: Mfon Udofia to lead D’Tigers to Tunisia

    By Mike Oboh

    The leadership of Nigeria Basketball Federation has officially confirmed that coach Mfon Udofia will be saddled with the responsibility of leading D’Tigers to the 2021 Afrobasket qualifiers in Tunisia.

    Mfon who joined the senior men’s national team technical crew just before the 2019 FIBA World Cup will fill in for Head Coach, Mike Brown, currently tied down by Golden State Warriors.

    On the other hand, Coach Alex Nwora who remains a vital part of the D’Tigers’ crew will also be missing due to family and personal reasons.

    Making the announcement, NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida said, “Mike Brown is doing his primary job and occupied at this time as the assistant coach with Golden State Warriors”.

    “Coach Alex is staying back for very personal and intimate reasons which we understand. Our head coach to Tunisia will be Mfon Udofia.”

    He expressed utmost confidence that the absence of the two coaches will in no way affect the team’s outing as he described Udofia who tried out with D’Tigers prior to the 2016 Olympics as a capable hand.

    “He was with us at the World Cup. They are all hands we are very used to. Our General Manager, Musa Adamu will be there and of course the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Federation, Babs Ogunade.”

    “So, we have a rolling belt. We can pick people as they are available which will not stop us from having a good show”, Kida assured.

    The 31 years old retired point guard is currently an assistant coach with Skyhawks in the NBA G League and he is set to become the youngest ever coach to handle the Senior men’s national team of Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, Sportsville Media Communication presented an Award of Excellence to the NBBF President for his continued effort in developing basketball in Nigeria and putting the country on the global map.

    The organisation marking its 20th year anniversary said Kida and nine others were deemed worthy of the award after careful deliberation and selection by the award committee headed by seasoned journalist and former Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympics Committee, Tony Ubani.

    In his reaction, Kida who was on ground to pick up the award thanked the organisers for deeming him fit which is a validation of what the board has been able to achieve in the last three years.

    For him, the award is a call for better results and renewed dedication because, “To whom much is given, more is expected”.

  • 2021 domestic season: NBBF in deep talks with sponsors

    2021 domestic season: NBBF in deep talks with sponsors

    By Mike Oboh

    Amidst global challenges as occasioned by Covid-19, the Nigeria Basketball Federation is in deep talks with sponsors of the domestic leagues in its quest to kick start the 2021 league season.

    With the domestic calendars already drawn, the federation is in talks with its long term women league partner Zenith Bank as well as Total Nigeria who recently agreed to sponsor the Divisions One and Two men’s leagues.

    “We are in contact with our stakeholders, we wrote the clubs in November telling them that if things went well we should hit the ground running. We have spoken to Total Nigeria who are the sponsors of the Men’s Division One and Two leagues which is our big signpost  for grassroots development”, NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida, said in Lagos.

    For the women, he revealed that they are not left out with discussions with Zenith Bank at an advanced stage.

    “We are in a deep discussion with Zenith Bank who are also working round the clock to formalise the protocol all with a view to see how we can kick start basketball activities back home.”

    He assured that as a responsible federation, strict protocols will be put in place in line with the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 directives in its quest to create a safe environment for all.

    “We will put in place some kind of strict protocols that will allow us to play the leagues. We have drawn out all our plans again, but because of the second wave of the pandemic, we are currently studying the situation.

    League debutant, Air Warriors of Abuja won the 2019 edition of the Zenith Women league while Impression of Asaba emerged champions of the Total Division One.

  • You are not alone- NBBF assures bereaved Gumel

    You are not alone- NBBF assures bereaved Gumel

    By Mike Oboh

    The Nigeria Basketball Federation has assured the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr Habu Gumel of their unflinching support during his trying times following the loss of his wife.

    In a condolence message by the NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida to Gumel who recently lost his wife, Hajiya Khadijat Ahmed Ladi Gumel after a brief illness affirmed the federation’s commitment to providing the needed moral and emotional support.

    Kida noted that the loss of a loved one is not an easy burden to carry as he prayed for the repose of the departed soul.

    “We are deeply touched about this unfortunate incident which nobody saw coming. Though we have all accepted the inevitable, nobody is prepared for the pains that come after the loss of a loved one.

    “As a federation under NOC, we owe our president support while praying to God to give him the strength to bear this irreparable loss”.

    Kida while extoling the virtues of the deceased said, “We take solace in the fact that despite her brief stay in this realm, she shone brightly and was a strong pillar of support to her husband, immediate environment and people around her.

    “Over the years, Engr Gumel has been providing quality leadership for sports development in Nigeria in various capacities as a retired staff of the Federal Ministry of Sports, President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, NOC, Nigeria Sports and the Executive Secretary/CEO Nation Lottery Trust Fund amongst other positions which would not have been possible without the support of his wife”, Kida commented.

    “Accept our deepest and sincere condolences as you count on us for our maximum support”.

    The late Hajiya Gumel who died at the age of 56 is survived by 4 kids.

  • Court injunctions stop dunk off of Nigeria men league, says NBBF

    Court injunctions stop dunk off of Nigeria men league, says NBBF

    By Mike Oboh

    The Nigeria Basketball Federation has regrettably announced that holding the Men’s Premier League may not dunk off soon due to the on-going suit brought against it by Management Board of Kwese Premier Basketball League’ and one Ibrahim Sa’ad (Chairman, Gombe State Basketball Association)

    Sa’ad is fronting for Gombe Bulls, Kwara Falcons Basketball Club (who have recently shown intention to withdraw from the court) and the Nigeria Basketball Premier League Owners’ Council.

    NBBF was dragged to Court on the 6th November, 2018 by proxies of the former NBBF Board attempting to stop the current NBBF Board from organizing the Premier Basketball League.

    The suit which is an injunction seeking to stop the NBBF from organizing the Nigerian Premier Basketball league (FHC/ABJ/CS/1317/2018) held a court sitting on the 13th October 2020 and has continued to be a painful clog in the federation’s wheel of progress.

    In order to avoid contempt of Court, the NBBF will refrain from organizing the Premier Basketball until the determination of the substantive suit.

    The NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida said, “We are not unmindful of the concerns of our players who are being affected by the absence of NBBF Men’s Premier League but sadly, most agitators have found it easier to blame the board for not being concerned about their plight which is the easiest thing for them to do due to  ignorance.”

    The board said there was a need to set the records straight so that  genuine stakeholders can beam their searchlight on the real people causing the problems who are hell bent on destroying the future of young basketball players because of their personal agenda.

    While calling for understanding of the situation the federation has found itself, Kida said the federation is doing all in its power to actively engage the players.

    “We have been engaging in massive marketing drive to get sponsors, but no responsible corporate organisation will want to invest in a cacophonous environment that we have found ourselves.”

    Explaining further, Kida noted that “In spite of the legal logjam and absence of a sponsor, the federation has been coming up with different programs to fill the vacuum. We know it is not enough, but we will continue to do our best as allowed by the reality on ground”.

    Ruing the missed opportunities for players to grow, the NBBF president said, “We have recorded some achievements through the Total Division One and Two leagues as well as the expanded Zenith Bank Women Basketball League. Imagine what we would have achieved without all these needless distractions.”

  • NBBF, Total E&P to sign 5-year sponsorship deal Sept. 15

    NBBF, Total E&P to sign 5-year sponsorship deal Sept. 15

    By Mike Oboh

    The Nigeria Basketball Federation will officially sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Total E&P Nigeria Limited on September 15, 2020 for the sponsorship of Division 1 and 2 men basketball leagues.The federation’s Secretary General, Afolabi-Oluwayemi Olabisi said the landmark event will hold at the company’s headquarters in Lagos at 10:00am. Elaborating on the development, the NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida said, “We are excited about this long term partnership targeted at the grassroots which is one of the core focuses of this federation.”This is another fulfillment of some of the promises we made about creating platforms for raw talents to be nurtured while making basketball attractive to the corporate community to want to partner with us.”After critical evaluation of the initial two-year deal between the NBBF and Total, both parties felt it was expedient to continue with the harmonious relationship.”With the initial two -year support of Total E&P Nigeria Limited, we were able to introduce the Division 2 league system and also expand  the Division 1 with more teams participating and playing more games. It is on record that more than 150 local basketball teams participate in these two divisions all over the country, with 2 teams per state qualifying for the zonal meets.””With another five-year agreement on the table, we should be able to build on what we have achieved and establish a system where more talents can participate in organized basketball.”