Lagos (MultiChoice Premier League) - The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF has commenced the repair work of the sports hall of the national stadium, Lagos ahead the start of the MultiChoice Premier League billed to jump-start on August5 across the country.
The repair of the sports hall became imperative as the floor has become deplorable why most of the toilet facilities have since gone bad and needed to be repaired before the commencement of the first year of the four-year MultiChoice sponsorship of the nation flagship competition – The Premier League for Men.
Part of the hall that have been earmarked for repair includes the floor, painting of the wall, repair of toilet facilities among others.
According to the president of the NBBF, Tijjani Umar says the repair is meant to add value to the game and enhance its beauty on television since matches will be broadcast live on SuperSports cable channels.
The federation has also enlarge the teams in the league to its traditional sixteen teams format (eight from each of the Atlantic and Savannah conference).
Our correspondent learnt that this year’s league will not involve road trip due to lack of time but teams would play within their conferences while a full season (2009/2010) will jump-start in November this year.
The Nigeria Police Bombers basketball club is making a come back to the Atlantic conference while Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt is another new entrant into the league from the Atlantic conference while Kada Stars basketball club of Kaduna rejoined the Savannah conference after several years in limbo.
Other teams in the Atlantic conference includes former champions, Lagos Islanders and Ebun Comets basketball clubs; Nigeria Customs basketball club; Dodan Warriors basketball club; Union Bank basketball club and Delta Force basketball club of Asaba.
And in Savannah conference is reigning champion, kano Pillars basketball club, Niger Potters basketball of Minna, AHIP basketball club of kano, Bauchi Nets basketball club, Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi, Plateau Peaks basketball club and Tapgun Rockets basketball club of Jos.
By: Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA Africa