Basketball: Two Years Withdrawal Will Be A Good Decision If.... Players' Rep

Basketball: Two Years Withdrawal Will Be A Good Decision If.... Players' Rep

By Niyi Busari

Nigeria Basketball (NBBF) Players' Representatives, Stanley Gumut, has said that the Federal Government decision to withdraw basketball from all international tournaments will turn out to be a good decision if it can bring to an end the internal crisis rocking the game and also stabilise the local league.

Gumut however, said he is not happy that Nigeria withdraw from all FIBA organised tournaments particularly at the time the Men and Women national teams are performing well.

"Every stakeholder of the game who really loves basketball is not going to be happy that Nigeria is pulling out from the much-desired world championship. Every real person who like the game will not see it as a good decision but again if you look at it from another perspective, will this bring to an end lingering crisis because it has been six years now that this crisis has been on. If it will bring the crisis to an end, so be it. It is not that it is favourable to what we are doing but if it is going to bring the crisis to the end, i think we should take it," he said.

He however urged FIBA to accept the government proposed Interim Management Committee. 

 "I'm not happy particularly at this time that we are doing well but then I'm optimistic that the letter that was sent to FIBA let them respond by saying we would allow the interim management committee as announced by Permanent Secretary to run the national team because what they are saying is that no federation, so let the interim committee be allowed to run the affairs of the Federation. The committee has not been announced yet but the government should put people that understand the game so that FIBA can work with these people. I think that is where there is bone of contention. Let the interim committee run the national team and international competition. All those in the national teams (the players) have their jobs but those on the domestic scene have no job, no competition.

"We have over 5,000 basketball players in the country and the national teams comprise only 12 players; 12 for male and 12 for women making 24. If this decision is going to help the 5000 home based players that are here, then let's look at that way." He concluded