Ayo Bakare, the former national coach and current head coach of Ebun Comets in Lagos, has voiced his concerns over the leadership crisis that plagued the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) from 2017 to 2022.
Bakare, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), emphasized that the turmoil had significantly hindered the development of basketball in Nigeria, likening the situation to a civil war.
The fallout from the leadership dispute, according to Bakare, has taken a heavy toll on the sport and created an unfavorable environment for sponsorships. “We can’t get sponsorships easily because the whole environment has been polluted,” he lamented.
While acknowledging the damaging impact of the crisis, Bakare also highlighted the current shortcomings in Nigerian basketball, particularly the abbreviated league competitions that have persisted for four years.
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He criticized the trend of having a short, two- to three-week tournament as the pinnacle of the Premier League, noting that it is not conducive to the quality of the competition or for the teams participating.
Bakare further pointed out the lack of information regarding the venues for the competition’s next phase, leaving participating clubs with minimal time to prepare.
The former D’Tigers coach expressed concern about the impact on both the quality of the competition and its followers.
To adapt to the challenging circumstances, Bakare revealed that Ebun Comets have made cost-cutting decisions, including sending only six players to represent the team.
The financial constraints and uncertainty have limited the club’s ability to participate fully.
In his advice to the NBBF, Bakare emphasized the need for more local competitions to provide Nigerian players with greater opportunities.
He acknowledged the difficulty of securing funding for basketball due to the sport’s damaged reputation. Bakare also highlighted the negative perceptions associated with the federation, where past presidents have faced allegations of corruption and private accounts, deterring potential sponsors.
Ayo Bakare proposed a solution involving perseverance. He stressed the necessity for the Nigerian basketball league to continue without sponsorships to show sponsors that the sport has transitioned into a more stable and harmonious phase, ready for progress.
In a league already struggling financially, Bakare pointed out the challenges clubs face, with many borrowing money to participate in competitions.
He emphasized that expansion of the league is not feasible when even existing teams struggle to cover basic expenses.
Ayo Bakare’s perspective sheds light on the tumultuous journey of Nigerian basketball and the need for unity, stability, and a sustainable framework to rebuild the sport’s image and attract essential sponsorships.
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