The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has celebrated Kingsley Ojeaburu’s nomination by the Federation of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to officiate in the upcoming 2019 Men’s World Cup in China and the U-19 WC in Greece.
NBBF President, Musa Kida, who sees the recent recognition as a witness to the growing stature of the game in Nigeria described it as an opportunity for Ojeaburu to make a case for Nigerian referees by being a good ambassador.
“It’s going to be an exciting World Cup affair with Nigeria technically presenting two teams. Apart from the D’Tigers competing at the world stage for a chance to win the coveted trophy, all eyes will also be on Kingsley Ojeaburu who will be officiating at the World Cup for the first time,” NBBF President, Kida said.
Ojeaburu who began his career as a referee in 1994 and became FIBA certified referee in 2005 has officiated at the 2014 Afrobasket Championship in Cote d’Ivoire where he got nominated for his first ever FIBA World Cup in Spain and also featured at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
“Ojeaburu will not just be going to the World Cup as a FIBA referee, he will also be representing and making a case for the referees back home.
“As one of the best referees we have in Nigeria, we trust that he will maintain his high level of professionalism which has continued to see him grow.”
