Tag Archives: Abdulrahaman Mohammed

Nigeria Basketball Federation Begins Re-Strategizing To Reposition Basketball

In a bid to sustain the recent successes recorded by the nation in basketball, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has started re-strategizing with the aim of making major actors and stakeholders, especially the staff of the federation key into the vision of transforming the game to an enviable height.

As a result, the NBBF in conjunction with BVS Professional Services,a multidisciplinary consulting firm based in Lagos, held a two-day brainstorming session in Abuja last Saturday and Sunday with federation members and staff, technical and youth committee member, national team coaches as well as technical officials of the game.

nbbf logo, Basketball,

Among those who attended the sessions are coaches Sani Ahmed, Ayinla Johnson, Abdulrahaman Mohammed, Scott Nnaji, Adewunmi Aderemi, Tari Preh, Adeka Daudu, Ogoh Odaudu, Emmanuel Odah as well as president of the Nigerian Basketball Referees Council, Tunde Popoola.

Others are league management committee members Ajibarade Bello, Lawal Garba, Skambo Morrison as well as Obande Ogbole and Gbade Olatona, both statisticians and members of the youth development committee.

The consultants, led by Oluyemi Abaolu-Johnson took the stakeholders through the Strategic Planning Model which reappraised the current Nigerian basketball landscape and administrative structure and arrived at a new frontier with promising outcomes.

Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Tijjani Umar
Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Tijjani Umar

Speaking at the session, NBBF president, Tijjani Umar stressed that the NBBF is embarking on capacity building for its staff to make them understand the vision of the board of making Nigerian basketball a reference point in Nigerian sports administration and therefore own and help drive it.

Lead consultant, Abaolu-Johnson stressed that his firm decided to partner with the NBBF because it saw that the federation has a strong leadership which needs an equally committed and resourceful staff to make basketball a strong brand that will attract sponsors to help take the game to the next level.

Lubomir KOTLEBA - FIBA Sports Director photo credit FIBA
Lubomir KOTLEBA – FIBA Sports Director photo credit FIBA

Basketball’s world governing body, FIBA’s Special Advisor, Lubomir Kotleba whose visit to the NBBF coincided with the strategizing session commended the leadership of the federation, stressing that “I don’t have much to advise you on because you are already doing what I came here to advocate.”

Stressing that the consultants have already spelt out ways to make Nigerian basketball the super brand it could be,he advised that what each stakeholding unit needed to do was to demonstrate commitment in their various areas of specialization.

WILL VOIGT IS NIGERIA’S AFROBASKET COACH

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has selected William B. Voigt ahead of others to lead its campaign at the 2015 Aftobasket Men’s Tournament in Tunisia. Coach Voigt was the Head Coach/General Manager of the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League from August 2009 to July 2014 during which period he won more games than any other Coach in the D-League and helped his team to be regular Season Champions in 2012-2013.

William B. Voigt
William B. Voigt

Coach Voigt was offered a short term contract until September to win the Afrobasket and qualify Nigeria for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. If he succeeds, he will be the Coach to lead the team to the Olympics. He is to be assisted by a team of Assistant Coaches and Video analyst. Coaches Ayinla Johnson and Abdulrahaman Mohammed as well as the team doctor and physiotherapist will keep their positions from the 2013 coaching staff.

The new Coach will not be new to the National team and Nigerian Basketball environment as he has previously coached two of the team’s standouts, Alade Aminu and Ike Diogu in the NBA D-League and has also volunteered in Summer Basketball Camps organised by Masai Ujiri in Zaria and Lagos between 2004 and 2008.

The National team training camp is expected to open in Abuja on 15th July with both home and foreign based players.