… Stand On Edo Election Congress

By Osondu Ngwude

After a careful and fruitful deliberation, the South East zone of the Nigeria Basketball Federation on Saturday endorsed the CEO of Afa sports, Ugo Udezue to run for the position of the South East representative on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation NBBF at the forthcoming elective congress billed for Benin City Edo state.

The NBBF Election is slated to hold on 31st January, 2022.

Udezue, a former national team player who has helped in the development of the game in the country was unanimously adopted based on his track record in building bridges for expansion of the game in Nigeria and in the West African region.

For the very first time in the history of the game, the South East zone spoke with one voice and charged Udezue to bring his wealth of experience in delivering for the zone which has always stayed in the forefront of providing top quality players for different teams in the domestic, and national and international teams.

While extolling the virtues of Mr Udezue, the chairman of Ebonyi State Basketball Association, Reverend Father Maximus Chijioke thanked all the chairmen who made out time to come to Abakiliki.

The clergy called for understanding and love amongst all the states in the South East zone insisting that with out it “we will not achieve the goal of lifting the game in the region”

Fr Maximus called for all hands to be on deck as the growth of the slamming and ducking game will not be left for Mr Udezue alone but a collective effort.

Ugo Udezue is a former Nigeria international basketball player and graduate of the University of Wyoming, who worked in the United States of America, developing African players after he retired professionally, co founded the African Basketball League {ABL) and Continental Basketball League (CBL).

Recently, he was appointed the chairman of the Anambra Basketball Association. A former VP at BDA Sports Management in Walnut Creek California, Mr Udezue left his plush job in 2015 and returned to Nigeria to grow the game of basketball.

On the forthcoming elective congress, the South East stakeholders prayed that peace reign as all road leads to Benin City. They maintained that on the resolve of congress of the 9th Oct 2021 which agreed that the election be held in Edo state they stand, as wisdom is applied to avoid the hammer from the world basketball governing body, the Federation of International Basketball Association, FIBA.

To set the ball rolling, the zone came up with a mandate for the soon to be named South East Representative and other chairmen and stakeholders as they forge a common front to move the game of basketball to an enviable height.

South East Mandate include

• Build a sustanable basketball business ecosystem in te South East
• South East Professional Basketball league – Oriental League
• Develop a South East grassroot programme
• 20/20/20 initiative – Develop 20 referees, 20 sideline officials, and 20 coaches.
• Develop two strong basketball teams in the premier League and in Division 1.

-Create an enabling environment for former players and diaspora to contribute to basketball

• Create a South East database, websites and media platforms
• Emphasis on the development and growth of the girls/ Women’s basketball
• Infrastructure development.

The meeting was truly an eye opener that togetherness is key to development as all the Chairmen from the 5 states that made up the South East Zone namely Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo all attended. Also in attendance was the secretary of the host state Ebonyi Echem Nnamdi and South East Coordinator Osondu Ngwude.

Attendance
Victor Okoro – Abia State
Ugo Udezue – Anambra State
Fr Maximus – Ebonyi State
Nwagwu Chike – Ebonyi State
Echem Nnamdi – Ebonyi State
Chidozie Nwoye – Enugu State
Kelechi Anosike – Imo State.
Osondu Ngwude – Coordinator.