DStv basketball league dunks off February 28

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has informed that the 2013/14 DStv Premier Basketball League season is slated to dunk off on February 28, with a pre-season match at the National Stadium in Lagos between two premiership teams, just as the regular season would commence on March 7, 2014 at the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences.
This was contained in a communique issued by the Communique Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation in Abuja on Wednesday.
The communique further stated: “That teams are to upgrade their facilities for final inspection by the NBBF and sponsors.
“That teams are to be responsible for mobilising their fans and creating a fan base to ensure sustainable followership of the league games. In support of this, Dstv has introduced a cash reward of N500,000 and other incentives for the team with strongest fan base.
“Two promoted teams, Kwara Falcons in the Atlantic Conference and Gombe Bulls in the Savannah Conference, were welcomed to the Premier League while the relegation of Comets and Yelwa Hawks from the two Conferences were ratified.
“The sponsor has introduced the Supersport Man of the Match award for the best individual player in every match
“That all technical officials, specifically referees and Technical Commissioners are to be held to the highest level of performance as well as accountable for poor or bias officiating. In the same vein, team officials, players or supporters who bring the game into disrepute, will be severely sanctioned.
“The NBBF commended its sponsors, Dstv, Zenith Bank as well as their prospective partners for their interest in the development of basketball in Nigeria.”
Other parts of the communique reads: “The All Stars weekend would be observed on the weekend starting April 25, 2014.
“The Zenith Bank league for women is to commence on March 19, 2014 with all teams playing in the first two phases and eight teams qualifying to play in the Final-8 play-offs.
“In order to accelerate the various developmental projects of the federation, a Technical Director to oversee all the technical endeavours of the federation is to be appointed.
“That the new partnerships being developed by the federation are intended to open to new funding windows and attract additional support for the federation’s initiatives.
“The Forum also commended the National Sports Commission, NSC, the National Assembly and the Sports Committees for their indicative support for basketball development in Nigeria.
“The Forum also noted the renewed zeal with which the federation intends to pursue the development of youth basketball and commended the think tank set up by the federation to advise it on the best way forward.
“The Forum welcomed and congratulated the appointment by the International Basketball Federation of Nigerian FIBA referee, Kingsley Ojieaburu, as a neutral referee in this year’s basketball World Cup in Spain, describing it as an acknowledgement of the contribution of Nigeria to the game of basketball.”
Finally, the Forum noted the intention of the federation to raise funds and commission the building of the Nigeria Basketball House as an idea whose time has come.
The Forum was declared open by the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, supported by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, who represented the two Sports Committees in the National Assembly.