Basketball in Africa

Written by Anthony A. Stephens

The Liberia Basketball Federation has released the names of clubs due to participate in the up coming FIBA Africa senior men club championship.

LBF secretary general Fred Pratt has confirmed that six clubs representing three countries will ramble through the event.
He named the teams as ABC of the Ivory Coast, Swallows of Togo and Royal Hoopers and Kano Pillars of Nigeria.
Local champions Uhuru Kings and runners –up NPA Pythons are the two sides due to represent Liberia during the competition.
This latest development contradicts the LBF earlier statement that the tournament would have brought to the fore 16 teams.
Mr. Fred Pratt did not however give any reason for the failure of the teams to confirm their participation in the event but said the issue of six teams participating in the tournament was not strange.
“I don’t know. Nobody gave me any reason. Even FIBA didn’t tell me”,.
“We’ve been taking part in this same competition and the highest we can go is six,” noted Mr. Pratt.

The LBF chief scribe has at the same time told Star Sports names of the match officials for the entire showpiece have been released by FIBA Africa.

According to him, Malian born Abdallah Haidara will serve as technical commissioner for the tournament.
Referees selected by the African basketball governing body to officiate during the encounter are Yaya Cisse of Guinea and Sinay Diaktte and Sasi Camara all of Mali.
Obande Ogbole of Nigerian has been selected to serve as statistics supervisor during the event.
LBF Secretary General Fred Pratt said the teams and match officials will begin arriving in the country later this week.

He also told Star Sports there would be an adjustment in the schedule for the November showpiece due to the late release of the final information for the tournament by FIBA Africa.