A seeming ‘incurable’ virus (in form of human induced crisis) has continued to plague two top sports in Nigeria – Basketball and football, which has, over the years, dealt a big blow on the game (on and off the pitch).
In reality, the gruelling predicament at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has lingered to the extent that, outside ‘the sharing formula’, continuously wonder the content of goldmine those who are at dagger’s end with each other are fighting (searching) for. For better understanding, the persons I refer to those outside the sharing formula here, are non-football, basketball actors. They are actually non-sports Stakeholders.
Daily, they wonder how much billions of Naira, dollar or perhaps pounds that the ‘fighters’ are jostling for. Not knowing that, officially, no amount of money is appropriated to these men: as either salaries’ payment or any form of welfare package. Rather, on their own, sports Administrators (those with dubious/selfish agenda) use varying means to embezzle cash meant for the general development of the game – ranging from competitions, Athletes’ discoveries and training, facilities’ construction and maintenance among other germane things .
Again, the ‘fighting’ Sports overseers, after emerging from elections prefer to engage in frivolous activities that could only benefit their pocket – sad! at the detriment of suffering and humiliated Athletes, who toil day and night to train on their own: with or without adequate training tools.
Poor Nigerian Athletes are subjected to endless effort with virtually no competitive provision. In place of allowing athletes to attend competitions as at when due, our (well-established/comfortable) Sports managers fancy settling their girlfriends, family members and political allies not minding any applicable recompense. Even non-qualified persons can be employed as coach, then the unqualified coach goes ahead to make matters worse by abandoning talented athletes and recruit close ‘paddies’ from his/her village or nearby residence to represent Nigeria at any available continental or international sporting event.
Let the gladiators keep doing what they know best and let the country’s sporting architecture continue bleeding.
For NBBF and NFF, their long age (cold and obvious) war has existed from one generation to another. Anyone who is aware of goings-on within these federations understand that before, during and after every election, ‘Yawa must gas’, that is: bickering at different levels must erupt.
Amidst internal quarrel at any given federation, the powers that be – in this case, Minister, Permanent Secretary or even a powerful Director, could be at the background fuelling it depending on the interest at stake.
After three years and six months, the feud at Glasshouse, headquarters of NFF, has refused to die, barely six months to a fresh election that would usher in new executive board member led by a President.
The country’s football body has been in court since after September 30, 2014, when Amaju Pinnick-led Soccer house emerged. In fact, the matter that pushed them to judgement house didn’t start after the election, it emanated before a previous August 26, 2014 date, when aggrieved persons began to react over pronouncement; that initial election date had been shifted. Let me not bother you with the details which have been on the public space ever since.
However, the issues were prolonged: apparently because Pinnick-led NFF couldn’t take proactive steps to calm tensed nerves immediately after they were sworn-in and backed by the then federal government. The ripple effect is currently staring every Nigerian football-lover on the face. Already, there are palpable fears that FIFA 2018 World Cup quest is being threatened by the recent Supreme Court judgement over the eligible occupiers of the Nation’s football house. Don’t ask me what I think of the judgement, because I’m not interested.
I’m only interested in one thing. And that is the growth of the round leather game anchored on pragmatic approach that is able to ensure that many football pitches are made available for young Nigerians to express themselves and that those who have risen to professional levels are treated fairly.
On the other hand, I’m bothered by who governs basketball in Nigeria, but I’m much concerned on who will create an enabling environment for both upcoming and proficient basketball players to thrive.
Must everyone aspire to be at the helms of affairs? The simple answer is No. Nevertheless, everyone, including the ‘well-to-do individuals,’ contribute their quota – monies, ideas and other resources to aid the development of dunking and slamming game more attractive to investors and more rewarding to Players and teams as well as technical officials. I repeat, there is no reason, whatsoever, why everyone’s interest would be to emerge as NBBF leader.
Now, that world basketball governing body, FIBA, has ruled that there should be fresh election after last year’s parallel polls at Kano and Abuja, without composing or stating the timeline for the new exercise, should Stakeholders fold their hands and watch things get worse? Certainly, it shouldn’t be so.
It’s barely one year since the current imbroglio reared up in NBBF; those who claim to have the interest of Nigerian basketball at heart should step in now, instead of needless ban order on helpless and innocent teams – comprising Players and technical officials.
