NBBF says appointment of D'Tigress coach follows due process

Posted : 09 July 2023

The President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engineer Musa Ahmadu Kida says due process was followed by the Federation leading to the appointment of a new head coach for the senior female national team D’Tigress.

Kida, explained that NBBF Emergency Committee, saddled with the responsibility to hire a new coach for the female national team D’Tigress selected the best among the candidates shortlisted for the job.

“Rena Wakama a former member of D’Tigress has spent the last ten years working with different Universities and Colleges in America to develop the female slamming and dunking game and she is a very sound and certified coach at that,” the NBBF President stated.

In a similar vain, the Vice President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Babatunde Ogunade who was part of the team that screened Rena Wakama to head D’Tigress coaching staff, stated that the process of appointing coaches for various national team has not changed and that’s the process the current body of the NBBF followed.

“We understand that there is actually no formal laid down procedure on the hiring of National team coaches and as was the cases of all other national team coaches, including the appointments of coaches Alex Nwora, Sam Vincent, Otis Hughley, Mike Brown and now, coach Rena Wakama.

“It’s noteworthy to state that the NBBF Constitution empowers the Emergency Committee to oversee the day to day running and decision making for and on behalf of the NBBF.

“The current Emergency Committee is made up of the President of NBBF, Engineer Musa Ahmadu Kida, Vice-President of NBBF, who is also, the Chairman of NBBF Technical Committee, Babatunde Ogunade, as well as, the NBBF Secretary-General, Peter Njoku, who is representing the interest of the Federal Government of Nigeria on the board of NBBF.”

Babatunde Ogunade, the man who managed Lagos State Basketball Association (LSBA), for over two decades stressed that the Emergency Committee has been behind the appointment of coaches for various national team.

“Retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu was part of the Emergency Committee between 2016 and 2021 and during that time the Committee appointed over five different coaches,” the former captain of Team Nigeria to the World University Games in Romania, added.

“From time to time the decisions and moves of the Emergency Committee are communicated to the NBBF board.

“What we need now is support and encouragement for all stakeholders of the game,” Ogunade concluded.

Retired Colonel Sam Ahmedu is a board member of the NBBF but not a member of the Emergency Committee.

Another member of the Emergency Committee of NBBF, Peter Njoku who is the scribe of the Basketball Federation said he was fully involved in the process that produced Rena Wakama as head coach of D’Tigress.

In the last six months, the NBBF has been able to conclude the TotalEnergies Division 2 League, finish the first phase of the Zenith Nigeria Women Basketball League as well as attend two international championships; FIBA Africa Zone 3 U-16 boys and girls Championship in Accra, Ghana which Nigeria won and the FIBA AfroCan Qualifiers in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire without financial support from the Sports Ministry.

NBBF says appointment of D'Tigress coach follows due process

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