Basketball in Africa

FOLLOWING its suspension of all league action last year, the Namibian Basketball Federation (NBF) remains uncertain as to whether the regional basketball leagues countrywide will be able to resume or if another lockout is on the cards.
The 2011basketball season was marred by the suspension of all league action, a move that was allegedly done to accommodate for the training of league officials from the various leagues countrywide.
Despite a successful hosting of coaching and refereeing courses in Windhoek late last year, however, the federation has not yet decided on whether leagues are allowed to resume or not.
“It has not really been discussed so I cannot comment on that right now,” was what NBF Vice-President, Andrew Masongo, had to say when asked if the regional leagues affiliated to the federation would be allowed to resume their activities this year.
The federation, which recently signed an agreement with the Deutsche Basketball Bund (DBB) to catalyze the development of the sport in the country, has also been unable to evade adversity following recent reports of corruption and maladministration.
A similar situation last year resulted in some teams from Khomas paying registration fees for a league that never transpired since the federation’s decision to suspend all league action came only a few days before some leagues were set to start.
Meanwhile, despite the federation’s indecision, preparations for the commencement of the country’s premier basketball league -the Khomas Basketball Association league- are in full swing.
According to the association’s president, Isak Nahun, they had not received any information from the NBF indicating that the league may be suspended or cancelled again.
“As far as we know the league is going on as planned. They (NBF) have not come back to us about whether the league will not go on as planned, so unless they tell us otherwise, the league will continue as normal,” Nahum said.
The KBA league Director, Allan Nghixulifwa, confirmed last week that a total of nine clubs (Titans, UNAM Rebels, UNAM Raiders, Polytechnic Blues, Monotronic Success College, Plaza Warriors, Osire Camp, NAMPOL BC and Tomahawks) had already expressed interest in partaking in the league for the 2012 season.
Nghixulifwa also revealed that the league’s AGM is scheduled to take place in Windhoek on the 12 March 2012, where matters pertaining to the league’s commencement will be discussed at length.
NBF president, Kerri Tjitendero, could not be reached for comment.