By Gracious Akujobi
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has pledged to make merit its watchword for selecting players that would represent the country at the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) in South Africa.
Tijani Umar, the Federation’s President made this promise when he declared open the selection camp this weekend in Abuja as he promised to develop the game to the letter.
The NBBF invited 30 players from across the country for the two-day selection camp at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium.
Eight of the players would be selected to represent the country at the BWB camp in South Africa later in the year.
Speaking Umar said “The selection process will be more challenging this year because the quota for Nigeria was reduced from 12 to 8 and we want to assure that NBBF is committed to fair play and the selection process will be based entirely on merit”.
Continuing Umar said “the screening will entail all what the players can give to the country in terms of commitments, their attitude and character will be taken in to consideration”.
Meanwhile, Umar, said the Federation was determined to build a suitable youth programme as the players who are selected will be part of NBBF developmental youth programme.
“We want a youth programme that we will grow sustainably and we know that we will not win overnight, but when we start to win, we will dominate,’’ he said.
