FIBA Delegation Arrives Nigeria Over NBBF Crisis

FIBA Delegation Arrives Nigeria Over NBBF Crisis By Niyi Busari The world basketball governing body, FIBA delegation has arrived in Nigeria to meet with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) over the lingering crisis of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). FIBA, according to the source from the Ministry of Sports who preferred anonymity revealed that that delegation will arrive the country today to get details of the what is happening with the NBBF from the NOC. There has been rumours that FIBA may ban Nigeria over alleged interference of the Ministry of Sports in the running of the federation activities. In an exclusive interview with the President Nigeria Basketball Coaches Association, Scott Nnaji, he said Nigeria has not done anything wrong to attract FIBA ban. According to him, the international basketball governing body is still in smooth communication with the Secretary General of the Federation, Afolabi-Oluwayemi Olabisi, and no one has raised any issue regarding the ban. "The Secretary is in contact with FIBA and if they want to ban Nigeria, they won't be in contact with her." The newly elected Technical Director of the NBBF told BSN Sports. He added, "I will love even not having anything to do with FIBA for now and build our house back together. In the last four years we have not played any championship, we have not done anything in house. Most of our played are playing outside Nigeria. How was spent for the international competitions? If we spend over two billions spent on international competitions in the last few years on domestic leagues, it will help us to develop our game. So many players and coaches that don't have anything to do for years are suffering. FIBA won't ban from playing our domestic leagues and who are those who is going to lose? It is the same people in FIBA from Nigeria. He continued, "If you're representing Nigeria in FIBA and the international federation ban the country, who will you represent? So, let's forget about that talk about FIFA ban. Nobody is afraid of FIBA. The same people who are shouting FIBA ban are Theo one who put in this mess. "We would have said the Ministry of Sports is interfering is NBBF has a working constitution but we don't have that now. The constitution someone just made up its rules to aid how he's going to come back by himself without bringing those stakeholders in place will not work. The problem will continue. Let's sit down together bring this thing together and settle the issues surrounding the constitution then do the elections. And anybody that wins we follow the person as the president." He concluded.