NBBF Throws D’Tigers Coach Job Open…,

Tijjani Umar. NBBF President

The Nigeria Basketball Federation ( NBBF ) after the board meeting on Sunday stated that the coaching job of the National men’s team open for application.

The board unanimously agreed to this decision after due consultation with the technical committee to open the door to any coach interested to lead the D’Tigers to the defense of their All African Games title and the 2015 FIBA Africa Basketball championship in Tunisia.

The coaches interested in job are to submit there application to the Nigerian Basketball Federation secretariat and the best candidate will be selected after interviews have been conducted.

According to the President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, Mr Tijjani Umar, the national team gaffer selection will be based on merit as the team hopes to make a return to the Olympics in Rio 2016 by coming tops at the 2015 Afrobasket in Tunisia, having made their debut at the Olympics in London 2012 via the Olympic Qualifying event in Venezuela.

…National Teams to Camp in Nigeria

The NBBF President also revealed after the meeting that the Men’s and women’s national team will camp in Nigeria ahead of the All Africa Games and the 2015 Afrobasket for men and women.

Mr Umar stated that the teams will be camped in Abuja ahead of their continental showpiece,so as to bring a level playing field for both the foreign and home based players to compete for a place on the team and also practise in the African atmosphere ahead of the tournaments.

The NBBF President also disclosed that a two man task force including himself and the Vice President of the federation, who doubles as the chairman of the Technical committee, Mr Muktar Khaleh will travel to the US to interface with the US based players and organise friendlies and prospective training tour hosts ahead of the competitions.

Tijjani Umar. NBBF President

He said:

” We already have friendly matches and pre-tournament competitions mapped out in Europe and in China but we will also plan have a training tour in the United States even though we will camp in Abuja”.

The task force will leave for the United States as soon as the Women’s qualification tournament in Abidjan on May 30th”. He added.

The national basketball team has always had his camping in the US in the last decade or so and it’s about time the players wherever they are based come to the country and give the fans an opportunity to get to know and interact with them.

The resumption date for the D’Tigers will be announced in due course having already qualified for the Afrobasket and All African Games while the D’Tigress (the female national team) will resume camp this week as they prepare to battle for qualification to the continental showpieces from the 26th to 30th of May against the likes of Cote d’ivoire, Ghana and Liberia in Abidjan. The invited players and coaches of the female national camp will be announced after the conclusion of the 1st Phase of Zenith Bank Female Basketball League.

Tunis 2014 ACCM: Stakeholders Applaud Mark Mentors

Despite finishing ninth over-all in the just concluded 29th Africa Champions Cup for Men held in Tunis, Tunisia, Nigeria’s sole representative at the competition Mark Mentors basketball club have receive praises from various basketball stakeholders across Nigeria.

The Peter Ahmedu tutored Mentors who debuted at the continent biggest men club championship failed to made it to the knock-out stages after starting it group-B campaign on a promising note with a 68-65 points win over Abidjan Basket Club of Cote d’Ivoire but subsequently faltered in the group remaining games.

The Nigerian side also defeated Malabo Kings basketball club of Equatorial Guinea to finish ninth after getting a full dosage of what it takes to play among the biggest teams across Africa.

Mark Mentors chairman, Igoche Mark was singled out by stakeholders for remaining steadfast and believing in the ability of the team that came into limelight two seasons ago.

Tijjani Umar. NBBF President

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijjani Umar while speaking on a live radio programme on Monday said the team did well at the continental championship.

The NBBF boss, however, believed that Mentors would have finish among the top-four if it had the needed experience and exposure but says the team must have learnt one or two lessions from the Tunisia Champions Cup won by Angola Clube Recreativo E Desportivo Do Libolo.

Umar called on all stakeholders in the game to play it’s part so that Nigeria teams (clubs and national teams) can benefit more from activities that would propel the game to a higher level in Nigeria.

He concluded that 2015 will be a more challenging year for Nigeria as there are more continental championships that Nigeria would enter at national and club levels.

Ayo Bakare

Former head coach of the senior national men’s team, Ayodele Bakare urged people to understand that Mark mentors made its debut at the African stage and finishing ninth was not a bad result.

“I understand people’s expectation from Mentors but sincerely, it is not easy on the international stage, especially for first-timers as Mark Mentors were. Let us appreciate what they have been able to do, commend and encourage them. I am sure they have learnt a lot and will do much better as time goes on. And thanks to them, Nigeria’s flag was hoisted at that tournament and the country was represented, Bakare opined.

Vice-president of the NBBF, Muktar Khaleh on his part said Nigerians need to appreciate what the mentors have achieved; we must not forget it’s their first time out there. The team must have learnt a lot at the championship and for sure they will register a better performance the next time they get there. Kodus guys.

NBBF CONGRATULATES FIBA AFRICA FOR SUCCESSFUL CONGRESS

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has described the just concluded 16th congress of FIBA Africa as well organized and roundly successful.The congress which took place in Madagascar discussed the way forward for African basketball in relation to the new FIBA governance structure,competition calendar and format and also elected officials to steer the affairs of the zone during the 2014-2019 term of office

In a statement signed by it’s President,Tijjani Umar, the federation congratulated the continental body for it’s pro-active leadership and innovation and also hailed the two elected Nigerian members of the body’s central board, Muktar Khaleh,immediate past two-term president of zone 3 comprising eight west African countries and now President of FIBA Africa’s Finance Commission and Sam Ahmedu,the new Zone 3 President. By their membership of the FIBA Africa central board and as provided by it’s new statutes,the duo will become automatic members of the next NBBF board when the tenure of the current board expires in 2017.

Tijjani Umar. NBBF President

The NBBF urged Khaleh and Ahmedu to be great ambassadors of Nigeria and rededicate themselves to the shared ideal of moving Nigerian basketball forward which formed the platform for their emergence.

Oluwafemi Adefeso

NBBF MEDIA COMMITTEE