Basketball in Africa

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is seriously planning to dump Zenith Bank as sponsors of the Women’s League in Nigeria.

Speaking Friday, at the opening of the NBBF clinic for commissioners, referees and coaches in Abuja which ends today, the federation president, Tijjani Umar, described the sponsorship of the Women’s league by Zenith Bank as disappointing. “The Zenith sponsorship is not the way it ought to be. We have sought audience and courtesy calls without reply with the bank on the sponsorship. It has really been difficult and disappointing to work wit Zenith Bank. Since 2009, we have reached Zenith more than any individual or organisation but all has been silence. At the moment we are doing all to get another sponsor. We are looking at other options because we think the Zenith sponsorship is not offering any result. There is no sponsorship anywhere without an agreement like in the case of Zenith. We sat with DSTV for sponsorship before all and the media, but with zenith nothing, not even a paper. We have resolved that this year it might be someone else because what Zenith is doing is not good for planning and development. Besides the Zenith league is not giving women enough competition so we will use whatever funding to start a national open women championship.” He revealed.

Charting a new course for the federation this year, Umar said henceforth, the federation will not tolerate cheating as the federation does not want to win by hook or crook again. To stop that, he said the federation has mapped out a philosophy that will teach the coaches and players the roadmap to basketball development. “It is a systemic failure. There will be no more cheating again.”

Ahead the African championship both for men and women, he said only the best will be used.” For our U-19 women championship, we promise that we will have only girls 19 years and under the age of 19 by July for the Chile tournament. Any player not 19 and under by July is automatically out of the team. For the national senior women’s camp, only the best from the pool both home and abroad will be used. We are not too keen about the All Africa Games in Mozambique because nothing is at stake and we are telling our players to prove themselves at the African championships for men and women which are also qualifiers for the world championships.