Following the crisis that has plagued the development of basketball in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate withdrawal of Nigerian basketball teams from international competition for two years.
According to the minister of youths and sports development in Nigeria, Sunday Dare, he disclosed that the withdrawal will allow the government to set up an interim management committee to oversee the management and development of the domestic leagues as well as revamp the sports from the grassroots.
As regards President Muhammadu Buhari’s withdrawal of the team from international competition, the minister of sports reiterated that the government is highly committed to the development of basketball in the country.
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He has called on fans, officials, players, and stakeholders to remain calm as the government embarks on far-reaching initiatives to reposition, sustain and stabilize the state game of basketball for growth and success in the long-term interest of the country.
This action taken by the federal government is coming after the protest by basketball players this week in Abuja, where they stormed the office of the sports minister to protest over their perceived unwillingness and lackluster attitude of the ministry to resolve the post-election impasse rocking the basketball federation.
They disclosed that the leadership tussle going on in the basketball federation has taken a toll on their career, which has also hindered the growth of the domestic component of Nigerian basketball. They disclosed that they have written a series of letters to the sports minister, to which they got no response, as they were left with no option but to come to his office to protest.
Displeased with the government’s decision, Nigerian female basketball player Upe Atosu, described the decision to withdraw the country from the international competition as “heart-wrenching”. With the government’s decision to withdraw basketball teams from international competition, according to information gathered, Nigeria stands a risk of being sanctioned by the world basketball ruling body.
Such a directive from the government has dashed the hope of the women’s national team, D’Tigress, from participating in the 2022 world cup in Sydney, Australia. The female basketball team has already qualified for the world cup and now the government wants them withdrawn. The men’s team on the other hand has also qualified for the 2023 World Cup in Kigali in July, which they will also miss out on.
Is the government aware that not attending the world cup after qualifying attracts a huge fine? It is disheartening that they had to take such careless steps.
How will this ban improve basketball in Nigeria? Can’t the necessary improvements be done without taking this careless route, knowing full well the implications involved, most especially on the international scene?
The government must come to the understanding that sports is a big tool for international diplomacy which boosts a country’s image. This decision by the government is not right as it retards the growth of sports in the country.