Former D’Tigers captain and Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board member, Olumide Oyedeji, has expressed deep concern over the sluggish progress of basketball in Nigeria, blaming it on management issues and division throughout the federation.
Talking in Abeokuta per Sports247, Oyedeji admitted that the issues in Nigerian basketball have gone on for too lengthy. He took accountability as a board member however stated that with out unity, the game is not going to develop.
“I take accountability for the failures,” Oyedeji stated. “However that is larger than me or anybody else. Nigerian basketball is struggling due to an absence of unity.”
Oyedeji, who led Nigeria to its historic AfroBasket victory in 2015, described the present state of the NBBF as dangerous to the game. He referred to as on all events concerned to place basketball first, fairly than private pursuits.
“We have to cease the combating. Till we work collectively, nothing good will come out of this. Basketball should come earlier than politics or private achieve,” he added.
The NBBF has been caught in a management disaster for a number of years. This has led to separate camps, cancelled native leagues, misplaced sponsorship offers, and confusion over Nigeria’s place in worldwide competitions.
Now representing the South West zone on the NBBF board, Oyedeji has additionally been busy supporting youth basketball. He introduced plans to carry age-grade competitions throughout the area to assist rebuild the sport from the grassroots.
“We’re beginning U-13, U-16, and U-17 tournaments. Our objective is to develop the sport from the underside up. That’s how you can uncover and prepare expertise the proper method,” he defined.
Oyedeji additionally referred to as for adjustments to the NBBF’s structure, saying it presently favours only some individuals. He believes a fairer and extra inclusive construction is required to maneuver the sport ahead.
“We want a structure that features everybody. Basketball belongs to all Nigerians, not only a few,” he stated.
