NBBF Has Neglected The Grassroots—Nsofor

Assistant head coach of Raptors Academy, Surulere, Lagos, Tochukwu Nsofor, has declared that for the slamming and dunking game in the country to rise and become the cynosure of all eyes, there is a need for the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, to go back to the grassroots.

Nsofor said the neglect of the game at the grassroots is one of the reasons the country has failed to measure up with the likes of Angola, Senegal and Mozambique in Africa and also make appreciable impact on the global stage.

He said the grassroots has always been the engine room that produces local talents for significant development and greatness of sports across the world, hence see no reason why Nigeria will be an exception.

“ We need to go back to the basics and embrace developmental projects that will usher in fresh talents for the sport in this country. There will be no significant development if we drift away from the platform that have been generating us the likes of the Hakeem Olajuwon,” he said.

Nsofor lamented the lack of competitive tournament for local academies for them to test their might for future engagements, saying it is high time the NBBF began to appreciate their impact as catalyst to the development of the game in the country.

He said: “Despite all our (academies owners) effort and commitment to ensure the game does not die in the country we are still being relegated to the backstage by the NBBF. We are trying to make sure the grassroots, which produces players for the national teams, does not collapse. Hence we need encouragement from the government and the sport’s governing body. That way, we will be motivated and the desired goal of lifting the game to a greater heights will be achieved.”

—Bamidele Olowosegba