Nigeria - Premier B'ball League Play Offs for Lagos, Kaduna
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has confirmed that the Premier League for men will hold this month in two venues as announced last month by the Secretary of the body Mr. Francis Gbiri. The NBBF Secretary, who confirmed the details to THISDAYSports, told our reporter that the National Stadium in Lagos and the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna would hold the two legs of the elite competition for men's team in Nigeria. The league will play in an abridged format this time until the coming season when the league is expected to run in full under corporate sponsorship.
From allafrica.com
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The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has confirmed that the Premier League for men will hold this month in two venues as announced last month by the Secretary of the body Mr. Francis Gbiri.
The NBBF Secretary, who confirmed the details to THISDAYSports, told our reporter that the National Stadium in Lagos and the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna would hold the two legs of the elite competition for men's team in Nigeria. The league will play in an abridged format this time until the coming season when the league is expected to run in full under corporate sponsorship.
This shortened version of the league will hold in the Savannah Conference (Kaduna venue) from the 19th to 24th and the Atlantic Conference from the 21st to the 26th.
The league was meant to play out in one venue (Abuja) to select the country's two representatives to the FIBA Africa zonal qualifiers holding from the 31st in Cotonou, Benin Republic but the teams suggested, through the League Director Muktar Khaleh (Malone) that each of the Conference should play at two venues separately to reduce cost for the teams.
The winner of each Conference will represent Nigeria in the African Club Championship in Angola if they scale through the test in Cotonou.
"The teams explained long stay in Abuja will be quite expensive for them given the short time required to raise funds and the Federation reasoned with them," Muktar said.
The NBBF also stated that work is on to secure a full sponsorship deal for the men's league which will see the league play out fully next season.
"It is the desire of the Federation to keep the name(s) of all sponsors out of public view until it is very mature due to negative experiences of the past. The relationship with Nike (American kit manufacturers) is expanding while the detail negotiation continues but essentially for the national teams. A full blown contract deal will ensure the national teams play first class tournament/friendlies all year round, train properly home and abroad for international competitions and make the Federation very financial independent in pursuit of goals irrespective of the situation at the Sports Commission," the statement read.
Nike kitted the teams fully in Angolan and Senegal.