NBBF Cautions Teams Participating In Final 8 Competition
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), has warned teams not to bank on the supposed Premier League Basketball Final 8 competition taking place in Abuja as qualifiers for the 2021 FIBA/NBA Basketball African League.
According to the NBBF, the warning became necessary after the Taskforce, whose membership remained shrouded in secrecy, invited teams to Abuja for a purported Final 8 competition.
The action which is not just an effort in futility is also a clear usurping of NBBF constitutional duties by the unknown Taskforce reinforced by the latest FIBA letter addressed to the NBBF President, Engr. Musa Kida and the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
“Sadly, this is another booby trap that may lead to another long drawn case(s) that may upset normal flow of domestic basketball in Nigeria,” NBBF Boss Kida said.
“We have been here before and it is sad that many of us forget what led us to a situation where the NBBF found itself in court courtesy of the booby trap put in place by the former board to destabilise domestic basketball in Nigeria.”
Clubs and players have therefore been advised that no result from any competition by the NBBF board will serve as a ticket to any continental competition.
“No nomination whether at the club or national team level will be honoured except it comes from the duly recognised Nigeria Basketball Federation board until such a time that a constitutionally binding election will be held,” FIBA expressly stated that no other body or group of people will be allowed to interfere in the internal administration of the NBBF in line with it statutes.
Nigeria may be thrown out of international basketball starting with the FIBA Men’s World Cup qualifiers holding later this month, following continued interference of the Federal Government in the internal governance of basketball in Nigeria.
Many concerned Nigerians are uncertain about the future of the game over the activities of the government backed Taskforce recently announced to run the affairs of the NBBF pending its election which the government indefinitely postponed.
Chidi Nwoke/NBBF.
