NGR - For the Love of the Game, Babalola Runs Basketball Tournament, Team

LAGOS (Nigeria basketball) - His love for basketball did not just begin overnight. He began his sojourn in the game while in secondary school, and as a student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Engineer. Babatunde Babalola was a member of the school’s basketball team, the high-light being his participation in the Nigeria University Games (NUGA) in the late 90s.

Having succeeded in the Oil and Gas trading with his outfit, First Deepwater Discovery Limited after school, he set out a plan to contribute to the development of the game of basketball in Nigeria.

The first step, he thought, was to stage a competition that would bring the best out of the clubs in the men and women basketball premier league. This gave birth to the First Deepwater Battle for Supremacy Championship, which brought together the best four male and female teams in the country.

The winner-takes-all cash prize of N500, 000 was unprecedented in the history of Nigerian basketball, while the N250, 000 appearance fees was tempting for the teams.

Apart from the participation fee and prize money, the teams that came from outside Lagos (Niger Potters and Kano Pillars) were flown from their bases unlike the road travels they were used to.

It is worthy of note that many companies and individuals had sponsored sporting events in the past with most of them (competitions) going into extinction after just one or two editions. But that is not what Babalola had in mind when he set out to contribute to the development of the game in Nigeria.

The soft-spoken entrepreneur wants to sponsor the competition for as long as his company exists.

Explaining his sojourn into basketball sponsorship, Babalola says, "What I am aware of is that there are challenges and I know that other companies at several times would have tried to do what we are doing at First Deepwater. But we are ready to make the competition enduring.

"And next year, the Battle for Supremacy would move to Kano. It is the desire of our company to support sports and replicate what Globacom is doing for football in the country in basketball. This will bring in more people to support the game."

He is one that does not forget his roots and he has concluded plans to sponsor a tournament in his Alma mater (FUTA) later this month or early next month.

"We are also trying to take the game to the higher institutions. As I am talking to you, renovation works are on at the basketball court of FUTA in readiness for the championship. And it would be one of the best outdoor courts in Nigeria. The vice Chancellor wrote me a letter of commendation for initiating the programme for the school," he said.

The First Deepwater boss also revealed that he was willing to take up the last slot in the Atlantic Conference of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Premier League.

"We are taking the slot but I am from Ekiti State, and I don’t know whether they would permit me to run the club in Lagos or Ekiti.

"But for easy access, I would prefer the club to be in Lagos so that I will know what their challenges and their needs are so that we will run it well.

"We are out to show others how to run a professional club. The players would be treated professionally, and their take home pay would be something that would enable them feed their families. We may think the players are young but they are growing and would one day start their own families," he said.

He distances himself from the politics of the game, as becoming a board member of any state association or the NBBF or criticizing it is not part of his agenda. Rather, he says he would try his best to support the game in other ways possible.

"I am sure that over time things would begin to work well in the basketball family. What should be done is for people to support the NBBF. I am not a politician, I am not interested in politics and I will never be involved in politics. I will do what I can for humanity and the love of the game. With time a system where everything works will evolve," he added.

When asked whether he might one day take up the league sponsorship, he said: "I cannot do everything all alone but I would do all I can. What we should appreciate is that we have young people coming up now, who have the love of the game and are investing their little income to support it. It is a gradual thing.

"Over time new people will have better ideas of moving the sports forward. It would be gradual and you cannot force out those who are there now because change must occur. So what I can tell you is that we will take things one at a time and support the board and before you know it we will get there.

"As I said, anything political, I am a bit withdrawn. I am a businessman, politics is controversial and I am not that kind of a person but if there is any other way to help, I will gladly do so," Babalola said.

In doing a critical analysis of the state of basketball in the country, Babalola stated that more competitions are needed to come up to ensure that the players developed at basketball academies and get the necessary competitions to hone their skills.

"The problem is that the young ones, who learn the rudiments of the game at the academy, do not have competitions to play at. The ones that are available come up once in a year but the players need more tournaments to develop themselves.

"This is what brought about the battle for supremacy. You don’t really have to spend so much money to organize a competition. With as little as N250, 000, you can organize competitions at intervals to allow people play and gradually the game will grow.

"So you need to have competitions every week to elevate the standard of the game. It could be battle for supremacy, it could be a tournament among the best three or the Lagos City League and before you know it, you will reawaken the people’s interest in the game instead of waiting for the league that comes up yearly.

"Look at the female league, it is now on recess and they would have to wait till next year for another competition. I don’t think this will help the country.

"Look at the Angolan team, they go from one country to the other to play friendly matches and when you see them, you will know they are ready for any competition. So there must be continuous competition to keep the players busy and promote the game," he added.

Babalola, who does not compromise standard and excellence, stated that the best players would be recruited for the new team that his company is floating.

He says, "Obviously, we are going to get players from existing teams. And we are getting players that would put in their best because they would be well taken care of. And by the time you bring in 10 players and give them what is obtainable in the African level, I am sure they would be happy. I am sure that they would be well paid and the results will roll in. I am a local content person and I am not looking to bring in foreign coaches or players.

"The Late Coach Yemi Tella is a Nigerian and he won the FIFA U-17 World Cup, while the likes of former Super Eagles Chief Coach Chief Adegboye Onigbinde are also well respected all over the world. I believe that there are a lot of basketball coaches like these people in basketball too."

Does he have any plan to expand the Battle for Supremacy?

"We are not going to expand the number of teams in the Battle for Supremacy otherwise it would lose its value. Four teams for each category are splendid. The top four teams as at when the competition starts would be invited. Even if my proposed team does not make the cut, the competition would still go on but I am sure with the kind of motivation I will give them, they would be there," he said.

Babalola, who still plays the game every Saturday and Sunday at the UNILAG basketball court, shied away from revealing the name of his new club, saying, "I will not disclose the name of my team now but we should be in the league next season. We are still shopping for top players within Nigeria, at least, for now."

By: Olusegun Ikuesan and Adeyinka Adedipe
FIBA