SPORTS
Drama as NBBF Elects Parallel Presidents
By Jude Opara, Abuja
There was drama on Monday after the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) elected two parallel presidents to oversee the federation’s activities for the next four years.
In Abuja, while the Proprietor of Mark Mentors Basketball team, Igoche Mark was elected another election was also going on in Benin City, Edo state where Musa Kida was also returned as the president of the same federation.
The Mark faction said the event which took place at the Package ‘A’ of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium was the authentic venue because that was the place designated for it.
Osita Nwachukwu was also returned as the Vice President of the federation.
On the legality of their action, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mohammed Sulieman said the federation had the mandate of the Ministry of Sports and Social Development as well as other stakeholders in the sport to conduct the election at the venue and on the designated date.
“This is in line with the Sports Ministry’s directive, and I am very happy to see that the elections were conducted in a very free and fair manner,” he said.
Sulieman said he is optimistic that the coming on the saddle by Mark will see to the development of the sport in the country.
On the factional election elsewhere in Benin, Edo state, he said he was not aware of any such activity adding that anything contrary to what took place at the National Stadium is illegal and a nullity because the stadium is the only approved venue for the election.
In his acceptance speech, the new NBBF president said he will ensure that the basketball league returns to the country, because it is a cardinal point in the quest to develop the sport in the country.
He said he was aware that the officials of the Ministry stayed away because of the activities of the faction that went Edo to “conduct an illegal election”.
The NBBF boss also said he is ready to extend a hand of fellowship to the other faction to comeback and contribute to the development of the sport and the basketball players.
In his good will message, the former Players representative on the former board, While Ugbaja said the emergence of Mark is a good omen for Nigerian basketball given his hunger to develop the sport and the players.
However, according to a tweet on the verified Twitter page of NBBF, Kida polled 37 votes from the delegates present in Benin, while Babatunde Ogunade was elected the vice president.
The election was said to have been monitored by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
The leadership tussle within the federation took a new turn after the Kida-led board was accused of neglect by members of the D’Tigress who threatened to boycott all national call-ups over unpaid allowances.
Unfortunately, while the malady is going on, the Ministry of Youth and Sport has remained silent.
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
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