Basketball in Africa

There is uncertainty over the dunk-off date for the 2006/2007 Basketball Premier League season.

An uneasy calm has enveloped the basketball circle, as players, coaches and club officials have expressed fear that the lull that ruled the Nigerian domestic league in the three seasons may resurface.According to some of the players who spoke with Sports Champion, the delay in the league dunk-off date has affected the morale of the players, who further argued that the ripple effect of the delay in commencement date is the performance of the country's representatives in international championships.

"We had hoped that the tempo of the last season would have snow ball immediately into the new season, but as it is now the players have over rested their nerves and not even sure of when the league will begin," some of the players said.

They further argued that a true champion may not emerge eventually emerge at the end of the coming season, adding that the enthusiasm of the players has been at the low ebb since the close of the last season.

In his reaction to the lull in the basketball circle, Ebun Comets point guard, Baba Jubril condemned the delay, declaring that the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is like a beggar that has no choice."There is nothing the federation can do, when who pays the pipers dictate its tune. If the sponsor is ready to bring the money, the federation will call the clubs for registration" he said.

Meanwhile, investigation revealed that the delay in kick starting the league is connected with the recent change of guard between the sole title sponsor of the league, Vmobile and Celtel Nigeria.

There are speculations that the new management of the title holder is insensitive to sports sponsorship, especially the game of basketball and have ordered the review of the contract with the Nigeria Basketball Federation.