Basketball in Africa

Fans at the ongoing 2011/12 DStv Men's Basketball League Final Eight tournament in Lagos yesterday applauded the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the championship for providing adequate security at the match venue.
Some of the fans, interviewed, expressed satisfaction at the marked improvement in the security arrangements.
Olu Atafo, a basketball enthusiast and an advertising practitioner, said: "I have to confess that I love the level at which security men are deployed at this championship.
"It gives me the assurance that even criminals who usually lurk around the stadium will certainly be too scared to operate, even when the matches end late."
Atafo said he watched the opening match of the championship on the DStv channel and that he felt he could get good value for his time.
He added that he was happy that the competition was worth its while.
Nkechi Akashili, a female basketball player, also said she was impressed with the security arrangements of the championship's Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Akashili, however, noted that the security challenges in some parts of the country now called for increased security awareness from all Nigerians, especially at occasions where there were invited guests.
"With the presence of the security men at the match venue, anyone who wants to play smart will have to think twice," she said.
Fidelis Usiagwu, a businessman, commended the security arrangement at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos venue of the competition.
"I always think twice before I go to watch any championship, although Lagos State is relatively safe.
"That notwithstanding, life has no duplicate; so, everyone now needs to be security conscious," Usiagwu said.
He attributed the encouraging turnout of spectators at the tournament venue to the heavy presence of the law enforcement personnel.
Muhammed Bashir, a fan of the Kano Pillars Basketball Club, also applauded the security initiatives of the organisers of the competition.

by Daily Trust