By Maxwell Kumoye and Trust Ittai
The Nigeria Basketball Federation, (NBBF) Premier League which has been abridged for three years in a row has come under knock from the proprietor of Novena Basketball Heartland Club Owerri and Novena Queens Abakiliki.
Nwanchwuku, a former NBBF board member of says the abridged League is inimical to the growth of the slamming and dunking game in Nigeria.
“For how many seasons now, we’ve been running a 12 day league in Nigeria and every body is comfortable with it. No promotion, no relegation, what a country,” the former University of Wisconsin forward lamented.
In the last three years, the Nigeria Basketball Federation has not been able to stage the second tier League – the Division One but managed to conclude the 2022-2023 Division Two League.
“Currently there is no major investment in the game and there is no return on investment. When you look at the space of basketball in Nigeria, it’s basically nothing. What you do is out of love and passion for the game.”
The former 6’8” forward Nwanchwuku, explained that the current league format cannot give Nigeria a solid representation at the international space.
HIS SOLUTION
★ Stage a regular season
★ Get the first and second divisions of the leagues working
★ Standard venues for all League games
★ Harmonize calendar and transfer system and policy
★ Set accept international and equally attainable standard for clubs, this include:
✓ Standard camping facilities
✓ Teams should have modern and reliable transportation arrangement
✓ Good medical personnel and equipment
✓ Get certified coaching staff and media unit
✓ Financial base of at least 50 million naira
★ Effective communication unit, website and other social media handles
★ Clubs should be duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with an active board and management structure
“I’m telling you the truth, this idea will work anyday, anywhere and anytime. When I was there, this were some of the type of ideas we came with. I said, these things can be done.”
He stated that the NBBF is focusing on the national teams to the detriment of the domestic league.
“We should encourage people that have the resources to do this thing and do it the right way it’s supposed to be done. Then you will see results instead of putting sentiments in between.”
“Private initiatives have been keeping the game of basketball alive in the country in the past four years and these arrangements can’t be the solution to driving and accelerating the growth of the game in Nigeria,” Nwanchwuku emphasized.
The Imo State born fromer D’Tigers player strongly believes that if effectively run in the country, Basketball has the capacity to attract huge financial investment and transform the sporting landscape of Nigeria.
“There are people that want to run basketball the right way. We have people that know how to do it and they have the resources to do it. Instead they try to clog up the system and try to deter them from coming in and doing it.”
Osita Nwanchwuku, who is also the CEO Novena Group of companies that include Novena Energy Limited, Novena Motors and Novena Sports stressed that, he’s out there to add value to Basketball and Sport, not only in Nigeria but also for Africa. “I came out now to set standard with the male and female teams. I’m setting up not just a team but a well oiled one.”
It’s noteworthy to state that, since the 2017 election into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation and the 2021 poll, corporate bodies have shied away from the sport, leaving the fragile NBBF board with little or no financial power to run its programs.
In another related development, Novena Heartland Basketball Club and 15 other clubs are participating in the Chief of Defence Staff Basketball Championship in Abuja.
Armed forces, FCT Hard Rockers, Bauchi Nets, Gilali, Plateau Peaks, Kada Stars, Kano Pillars, Niger Potters, Dodan Warriors, Gombe Bulls, Gboko City Chiefs, Rivers Hoopers, Defenders, Maktown Flyers and Kwara Falcons are the other teams in the invitational competition.
The sixteen teams are drawn from the six zones of Nigeria.