Basketball: FG Decision Will Be Rescinded When Stakeholders Are At Equilibrum - Minister of Sports

Basketball: FG Decision Will Be Rescinded When Stakeholders Are At Equilibrum - Minister of Sports

By Niyi Busari

The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare on Monday said that the Federal Government can still change their minds and change their decision on Nigeria withdrawal from international basketball competitions.

Last week, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Sports announced the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for the next two years. The Ministry added that the decision was taken following five years of leadership tussle between the administrators that has bedevilled the development of the game.

Speaking with BSN Sports after the reception of the Nigeria Flying Eagles at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja, the Minister said, "We have communicated the approval of the president, we have given the reason the decision was taken, it isn't an easy decision, we look at different components of the crisis, we look at the negative impact on the basketball, especially youth basketball, we look at the 5 years plus of the crisis and all the efforts on the part of government and private individuals. We are at a point that we are losing our players, they are not ready to play for the team. We need to put a halt to it and see what can be done. The government is committed to the basketball development and is expected that the stakeholders will use this opportunity to get together put the interest of the game above all other interest. They should put ahead the career of players and come to an equilibrium where they will reach a compromise, this government will not be adamant to review that position.

"Basketball can only move forward with a united family but without unity we can not move forward." He concluded.