6th May, 2013
Chairman of the Oyo State Basketball Association, OSBA, Babatunde Babalola, has urged match referees in the ongoing DStv-sponsored Nigerian basketball league to improve their level of officiating in a bid to enhancing their chances of being invited to officiate at international events.
The Chief Executive Officer of First Deepwater Discovery Limited, the parent club of the reigning Nigeria Women league champions, First Deepwater Basketball Club, said this in an interview with P.M.NEWS Sports on Saturday after Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan defeated Customs of Lagos at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
Babalola charged referees to avoid making questionable calls during matches that could have negative effects on the outcome of league matches they officiate.
According to Babalola, all the referees need training and re-orientation, both locally and internationally to update their knowledge of the slamming and dunking game.
He said: “Today’s officiating is very poor and unfair. The referees need orientation and training. Our referees need to attend courses both locally and abroad, so that they will be kept abreast of the new rules, the changes that have occurred in FIBA in the past few years.”
Babalola, however, said the Warriors, who are new entrants into the league this year after they gained promotion from the lower league, have the potential to make their presence felt in the premier league in their debut season after missing out of the Nigeria top-flight league for 14 years.
He said: “The Oluyole Warriors might not be challenging for the league title this year, but I can assure you that the team will make Oyo State proud by qualifying for the Final 4 in the Atlantic conference later in the year.”
He urged the coaching crew led by coach Yemi Abiodun to ensure that they continue their good start in the league, promising that OSBA will make available whatever it takes for them to be among the top teams at the end of the season.