Former D'Tigers invitee, Ojo dies at 27 as NBBF mourns

Former D'Tigers invitee, Ojo dies at 27 as NBBF mourns

By Niyi Busari

Tributes have been flowing in from members of the Nigeria Basketball Federation after receiving the sad news of the sudden demise of Michael Olalekan Ojo.

According to an official release by his club, Crvena Zvezda of Serbia, Ojo slumped after training and died shortly afterward.

Leading the tribute is NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida who bemoaned the sudden demise of the 27 year old.

"This is another flower that unexpectedly withered at such a time it was expected to start blossoming.

"After a sterling College career in the United States of America and after securing a professional deal in Belgrade, it is so sad that the basketball world has been robbed of this emerging talent who has been described as one of the tallest to play basketball in Serbia."

In his own reaction, the Federation's Vice President, Babs Ogunade said, "I met with him in February at the FIBA Women' Olympic qualifying tournament in Serbia. I watched his match against Partizan Basketball. He was such a calm and unassuming personality”.

The North Central Representative on the board, Isah Umah described the late centre, who won the 2019 Serbian Professional League with Crvena as humble and hard working.

Umar who was D'Tigers Team Manager when the team was preparing for the 2011 FIBA Afrobasket when Ojo was invited to the National team revealed that he was a true Nigerian who bled green and white.

"He was excited to be part of team Nigeria and gave his best at such a young age. He did not make the final cut, but he was excited to have a chance to play for his fatherland”.

During the 2019–20 season, Ojo appeared in 22 EuroLeague games with Crvena zvezda, averaging 4.1 points and 3 rebounds per game while appearing in about 108 games for his club before his untimely demise as teams were preparing for life after the covid-19 global lockdown.

The Federation prayed to God to comfort his family, friends, close associates and the entire basketball family as they come to terms with this heart-breaking news.