Alabi Adelanwa, a National Basketball team's former coach has asked the Federal Government to reverse its decision to withdraw from International Competitions, so as to prevent imminent sanctions of the Federation of International Basketball Association FIBA, capable of ruining the future of the game in the country
The veteran tactician who produced the likes of Akeem Olajuwon, former captain of D'Tigers,Olumide Oyedeji and host of other past NBA Stars from Nigeria, in a chat with Edu-Biznews in Abeokuta, described the decision by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as most unfortunate and illogical for Nigeria whose both male and female teams are rated as number in Africa, with D'Tigress already preparing for FIBA Women World Cup Basketball Championship
Edu-Biznews recalled that the
world basketball body FIBA on Sunday threatened to sanction Nigeria, if the country fails to reverse the decision to withdraw from international competitions for two years.
FIBA had stated in its letter addressed to factional Nigeria Basketball Federation president Musa Ahmadu-Kida signed by Jaime Lamboy, Head of Legal, FIBA and dated May 18, 2022.
Last week, sports minister, Sunday Dare, through the Permanent Secretary of the sports ministry, Ismaila Abubakar, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had given approval, with immediate effect, to withdraw Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for two years, following lingering leadership rift in the NBBF between kida and Mark groups laying claim to the control of the basketball federation
The minister added that the withdrawal would help the country revamp the sport from the grassroots, as well as put an end to the basketball crises.
But Adelanwa said such decision would only destroy the game and not develop the local league, saying no progress will be achieved without the players competing with other countries in Africa and other affiliated nations of FIBA in the rest of the world
FIBA, however, warned that Nigeria was at the risk of being sanctioned, saying the withdrawal was in breach of Article 9.7 of FIBA’s General Statutes, which states, “National member federations shall manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.”
Article 10.2 of the FIBA Statutes added that on the initiative of the Secretary-General, FIBA Central Board may suspend a national member federation for the breach of Article 9.7.
If the sanction is approved, it means Nigeria will miss out on the 2024 Olympic Games, as well as the 2025 World Championships for the male and female teams.
Similarly, Nigeria will also be unable to compete at the next two Afrobasket Championships (male and female).
Reacting to a letter earlier written to them by the Ahmadu-Kida-led NBBF board, FIBA stated, “In such letter, you pre-emptively informed FIBA of the apparent decision by the Nigerian Government (Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development) intending to have Nigeria take a break from all international engagements for two years and enabling an Interim Management Committee to run the affairs of the basketball in Nigeria.
“As you already are aware, Nigeria is due to participate in the following FIBA competitions in the upcoming months: FIBA 2023 Basketball World Cup Qualifiers (FBWC23 Qualifiers) FIBA 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup (FWBWC22)
“As you are aware, any withdrawal of Nigeria from the abovementioned competitions will trigger potential disciplinary sanctions as per the FIBA Internal Regulations. Furthermore, if the absence of Nigeria from international competitions for the next two years materialises, the consequences may spread out well past such a two-year period.
“For example, please note that the withdrawal from the FBWC23 Qualifiers is also a withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification process. Similarly, depending on third-party results, the same situation could apply with respect to FIBA AfroBasket 2025.”
The statement added, “Accordingly, we request from the NBBF to immediately inform FIBA whether its participation in the abovementioned competitions is or not ratified.
“We take the opportunity to remind the NBBF of its obligations to manage its affairs with no influence from third parties, as per Article 9.6 of FIBA General Statutes.”
“I send you and your Federation’s staff my Best Wishes for health and safety.”
Adelanwa apparently reacting to the proposed sanction by the governing body, urged the minister to save the future of basketball in the country, by respecting the regulations of FIBA which describes Nigeria as third parties that must not interfere with the running of the game
He asked government to stop playing politics with the future of players in the game, to enable Nigeria sustain its current number one position in Africa and one of the leading countries in the world
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