27 July 2008
NIGERIA : NBBF Pleads for Cash, Potters, Union Win
by Pius Ayinor
Lagos
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is reaching put to the corporate world for assistance as it battles for cash to feature six national teams in continental championships in the remaining part of this year. The Secretary of the Federation Mr. Francis Gbiri told THISDAYSports by the weekend that the Federation is determined to fulfil its entire programme for the year as that is the only way to meet the yearnings of basketball followers in the country - a situation that has forced them to plead with sponsors for help.
"Sports cannot be run with just government funding alone and that is the situation we really face in Nigeria. In the Basketball Federation we do our best to get from the private world to make our events possible. We dearly need the corporate organisations now to make it possible to meet our competitions, especially the international events.
"We have pushed ourselves hard with the Premier League which has been very beneficial to the players, teams and the basketball system in Nigeria. I believe the gains of starting the league can hardly be quantified now. We are very hopeful that donors and interested sponsors for these teams will come up for partnership with the NBBF. These competitions will help in exposing and developing our players especially these young ones. If we truly want to build formidable teams for the future then we must not let these age-grade teams go into oblivion."
The national men's team is set to travel to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire this weekend for the FIBA Africa Zone Three qualifiers to the 2009 African Nations Cup. The players opened training camp since last week in Lagos but are essentially in an open camp due to cash challenges. The Federation is also preparing players for the Under-16 (boys and girls) and the Under-18 (boys and girls).
The NBBF has been running the Premier League since March without any corporate sponsorship.
And as the Premier League continues across the country Niger Potters of Minna have maintained the lead in the Savannah Conference with another win by the weekend. The Potters were in Jos and defeated Tapgun Rockets 71-64 as the play off season draws closer. Potters also won the first leg played in Minna on May 10th.
In Lagos it was also a hard fought win for Union Bank as they defeated Lagos Islanders by 59-49 points at the National Stadium. The Union Bank led through the break with three points and the game continued at a clutch into the last quarter where the Islanders could only score five points. Poor shooting and high turnover rate pushed Union Bank over their rivals.
Lagos
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is reaching put to the corporate world for assistance as it battles for cash to feature six national teams in continental championships in the remaining part of this year. The Secretary of the Federation Mr. Francis Gbiri told THISDAYSports by the weekend that the Federation is determined to fulfil its entire programme for the year as that is the only way to meet the yearnings of basketball followers in the country - a situation that has forced them to plead with sponsors for help.
"Sports cannot be run with just government funding alone and that is the situation we really face in Nigeria. In the Basketball Federation we do our best to get from the private world to make our events possible. We dearly need the corporate organisations now to make it possible to meet our competitions, especially the international events.
"We have pushed ourselves hard with the Premier League which has been very beneficial to the players, teams and the basketball system in Nigeria. I believe the gains of starting the league can hardly be quantified now. We are very hopeful that donors and interested sponsors for these teams will come up for partnership with the NBBF. These competitions will help in exposing and developing our players especially these young ones. If we truly want to build formidable teams for the future then we must not let these age-grade teams go into oblivion."
The national men's team is set to travel to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire this weekend for the FIBA Africa Zone Three qualifiers to the 2009 African Nations Cup. The players opened training camp since last week in Lagos but are essentially in an open camp due to cash challenges. The Federation is also preparing players for the Under-16 (boys and girls) and the Under-18 (boys and girls).
The NBBF has been running the Premier League since March without any corporate sponsorship.
And as the Premier League continues across the country Niger Potters of Minna have maintained the lead in the Savannah Conference with another win by the weekend. The Potters were in Jos and defeated Tapgun Rockets 71-64 as the play off season draws closer. Potters also won the first leg played in Minna on May 10th.
In Lagos it was also a hard fought win for Union Bank as they defeated Lagos Islanders by 59-49 points at the National Stadium. The Union Bank led through the break with three points and the game continued at a clutch into the last quarter where the Islanders could only score five points. Poor shooting and high turnover rate pushed Union Bank over their rivals.
# posted by afrbk : 16:15
