FIBA Africa Tourney: Low Turnout Worries Organisers

Organisers of the ongoing 17th FIBA-Africa Club Championship for Women have expressed concern over the low turnout of fans at the venue of the tourney, Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

The highly anticipated first match of the tourney which featured Nigeria’s champions, First Deepwater of Lagos against Maculosso of Angola yesterday witnessed less than 100 fans, while the last match of Day One between Kenyan Port Authority and the defending champions, Interclube of Angola only saw few spectators in the stands.

Media Officer of Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Olusegun Ikuesan, who is also a member of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, of the championship told P.M.Sports that the situation is giving them a lot of concern.

Communication Director of FIBA-Africa, Malian Lamine Badiane, was disappointed that an international tourney of such magnitude would witness a low turnout in a great country like Nigeria, adding that the hosts, First Deepwater Basketball Club, have not done enough to attract fans to the venue.

In his reaction, Chairman of the LOC, Muktar Khaleh, said the organisers would step up their publicity campaign to improve on the turnout of fans in subsequent matches. He disclosed that they are planning to get some schools in the area to bring their students to the stadium.

Meanwhile, Coach Lateef Erinfolami of First Deepwater said he was happy to record victory in their first match yesterday against highly rated Maculosso of Angola.

— Bamidele Olowosagba