NBBF: Finally Sunday Dare Gives Fatal Blow To Nigeria Basketball

AKEEM BUSARI

The greed and ego induced crisis that has been rocking the Nigeria Basketball Federation in the last two years has finally imploded as Minister Of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, Thursday announced the withdrawal of Nigeria for two years from all international basketball competitions.

Earlier this year in January, elections were held in Benin City that brought in a new board of NBBF led by Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida. Significantly, too, the election was recognised and ratified by FIBA. 

Prior to the Benin elections, the Sports Ministry had showed its biased position by consistently interfering in the running and constitutional duties of NBBF. All the shenanigans were not for nothing as Sunday Dare was playing the drums silently in the shameful dance.

Nigerians became wary of the aftermath of these shameful dance, just as the new breath of fresh air pervading the basketball community in recent days brought back smiles to genuine lovers of the game. All the new optimism have suddenly been blown away by the autocratic actions of Sunday Dare. 

Sunday Dare is without a doubt, the worst sports minister in the history of Nigeria. He is the defacto president of Nigeria sports federations. Every decision, actions and inactions that has continued to negatively affect Nigerian sports comes from his table. 

Many concerned Nigerians cannot forget the ignominious roles Sunday Dare and his ministry officials played in the below average performances of D’Tigress and D’Tigers at the last Tokyo Olympic Games, where the teams were poorly kitted and the officials were denied appearances at the games for selfish reasons. 

Sunday Dare and the Ministry are guilty of inducing the crisis that led the NBBF to its present state. 

This shameful pronouncement of ban on Nigeria basketball has equally thrown up questions; did Sunday Dare and his advisers considered the interests of the youths and officials whose livelihoods depend on the game?

Did he also consider what the looming ban from FIBA would do to the future of Nigeria basketball? Presently, Nigeria is the pride of Africa and the new bride of world basketball. After the 2 years ban from international basketball, can the national teams ever regain their pride of place?

Truly, history will judge us all.

Akeem Busari, a sports journalist, wrote this piece from Lagos