We Won’t Accept Self-Imposed Ban, South East Basketball Association Tells Sports Minister

KALU GRACE CHIOMA

The South East Basketball Association which represents all the South East basketball chairmen: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo has categorically condemned the suspension of Nigerian basketball from international competitions.

In a press statement by its secretary, Osondu Ugwude, on Wednesday, the zone also commiserates with all the players both local and international that the actions of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare have and will affect.

The statement says: “It’s a known fact that the Nigerian national teams, both D’Tiger and D’Tigress are composed mostly Southeast players, and without any contradiction, the South East Basketball Association is 100 percent behind the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and its President Musa Ahmadu Kida who have in four years built a basketball dynasty with no parallel in the history of our game.

“It is no coincidence that in the past 4 years Nigeria’s D’ Tigers and D’ Tigress have become the two best teams in Africa and the top 10 in the world, which pops the question of why did the Minister, Sunday Dare, suspended the best sports federation in Nigeria? The Only federation to qualify the men’s and women’s teams for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo Japan, built the most robust grassroots program in the history of the game with the first-ever division 1 and 2 tournaments sponsored by TotalEnergies Nigeria?

“It has also been the first-ever time the South East as a block participated in any grassroots event and the first-ever time a South East team “Coal city Miners” featured in the premier league “THE PRESIDENTS CUP”.

“We in the South East believe the actions of the minister are politically motivated and a witch hunt, not a sports-related decision because it makes absolutely no sense and lacks any justifications that have been cooked up as a defense to the suspension.

“Moving forward, we the South East will not support or participate in any of the “manufactured” programs from the federal ministry of sports.

“It is already well known that they have sent their co-conspirator acolytes of the Igoche Mark group to raise fake teams to participate in phantom events on behalf of the South East.

“We the South East will be convening an urgent meeting to find creative ways to keep our players engaged and motivated during what will be a gloomy period for Nigerian basketball.”