Duro Ikhazuagbe
Following the representation made to basketball world ruling body, FIBA, by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), the deadline given for the resolution of the leadership tussle at the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), has been extended by a further three months expected to lapse on February 28, 2018.
Secretary General of FIBA, Patrick Baumann, on Tuesday communicated the decision of the world body to NBBF scribe, Chimezie Asiegbu.
In that letter dated December 12 and addressed to the Asiegbu, secretary of the Ahmadu Musa Kida-led board, FIBA said that the new extension was agreed upon at their Central Board meeting (of the world body) held on the December 9, 2017 to allow a fact-finding delegation which has been set up to visit Nigeria before the end of the latest extension. The next FIBA Central Board meeting is scheduled for March, 2018.
The latest development is the fallout of the interventionist role played by the NOC to save Nigeria the embarrassment of been slammed with a ban as the two factions led by Kida and former President Tijani Umar failed to reach a compromise before the November 30 deadline given to Nigeria to solve the leadership crisis.
Following a breakdown in the attempt to get both Kida and Umar to a round table to resolve the crisis, THISDAY learnt that NOC wrote FIBA 26th, July 2017 stating the attempts to end the crisis.
It was further learnt that it was this initiative that warranted the extension till February next year.
FIBA is expected to contacted NBBF shortly to arrange the precise details of the visit of the FIBA delegation whose findings will be reported to the Executive Committee for the March meeting.
With the extension given by FIBA, the Kida led NBBF is now expected to shift its focus to unfolding its long-term plans for the development of the game as its Technical Department has resumed scouting of players for the first phase of the D’Tigers’ 2019 FIBA World Cup qualification coming up between February 23rd and 25th, 2018.
