Majority of the teams participating in the Zenith Women Basketball League have registered their opposition to travelling to Enugu, where the final eight contest will hold from September 21-29, 2024.
The teams that will feature in the final phase of the league include First Bank, Dolphins, MFM and Bayelsa Whales from the Atlantic Conference, while Customs, Royal ACES, Air Warriors and Titans from the Savannah Conference.
But the enthusiasm of participating in the final eight contest seems to be wanning as most of the teams are wary of travelling to Enugu.
“These are not the good time to travel by road in Nigeria and most the clubs have made their feelings known to the Nigeria Basketball Federation.
“There is kidnapping on the highway, the roads are not very good and besides the activities of unknown gunmen are well documented in the Southeast,” said one of the team’s official.
“We’ve had football clubs running into robberies and having accidents on the highways and so there is a genuine concern for the safety our players. These are women and they could be high value for the criminals lying in wait.
“It would have been good if the teams are flying in and out of Enugu as it is, only very few can afford to do so. We are calling on the NBF to rethink the venue for the safety and security of the teams and officials.”
It was gathered that the NBF hierarchy is favourable disposed to have the tournament played in the Enugu to boost the chances of a board member gunning for a top position in the upcoming elections.
