As 2021 Nigeria basketball Super 8 kicks off on Friday November 12, coaches are already optimistic of the chances of their various clubs to do well despite lack of competitive league in the past years.
Both coach Sani Ahmed of Kano Pillars and his counterpart Scot Nnaji of the Nigerian Customs Basketball Club who spoke to newsmen shortly before kickoff particularly expressed dismay over non-league action for a long time.
Coach lamented that but for Pillars team that enjoy regular monthly pay from the state government, survival has been tough for most coaches and players.
He said, “The game has been suffering in Nigeria. The only area the outgone board succeeded is honouring continental and international competitions but there was no league action which is too bad.”
On his part, coach Scot wondered why global basketball body, FIBA, will threaten Nigeria with ban for any reason.
He said, “I’ll love us not to have anything to do with FIBA for now and build our house back together. For four years, we have not played in any championship or done anything in-house. Most of our players are playing outside.
“How much was spent for international competitions, over N2 billion. If we had used that money at home it would have helped us develop our basketball. Many players and coaches are idle and they don’t have anything to do because there were no activities at the home front.
“Let them ban us if they can and it will not stop us from playing basketball in Nigeria. It is only international matches they would not play and who are those going to lose, it is the people that are in FIBA.
“So, let’s forget about that tack that this will happen or that will happen, nobody is afraid of FIBA, they are part of those who put us in this shame.
“We are supposed to have played a league before we get to this final 8 stage, but as you can see the players are eager to play ball after staying for four years without league. If they said this would last for two weeks, they are ready to play but because of the short time we have to submit the name of Nigeria’s club for Basketball Africa League (BAL), we have to finish the final 8 by November 16.”
Scot who is the newly elected technocal representative in the Nigeria Basketball Federation described the ongoing final 8 of the Men’s Premier Basketball League at the Indoor basketball court of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, as a turning point that has reunited Nigerian basketball referees, coaches, players and other stakeholders together.
