The bane of sports in Nigeria has been attributed to poor officiating by our umpires during competitions.
Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Joe Erico, made the assertion on Tuesday after Dodan Warriors were defeated by Kano Pillars 84-79 points in the last match of the day at the ongoing DStv Final Eight basketball.
Ibrahim Yusuf of Kano Pillars (No. 6) going for a dunk, but was blocked by Chibuzor Njoku of Plateau Peaks (No. 14) during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League Final 8 held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere. Kano Pillars won by 94-53 points.
“I watched with dismay the poor officiating by the umpires during the match, and I felt sad for the development of sports in our country.
“It is not only peculiar to basketball, but other sports in the country. That is why we are not moving forward. What we witnessed tonight happens almost every day during sports competitions in the country,” he said.
When asked why it is a recurring event, the ex-international linked it to lack of love among our sports administrators.
“There is no love among us. We are always envious of each other. The ‘pull him down’ syndrome is really affecting us and that is why this is happening every day at our sports competitions,” he said.
A top official of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) who pleaded for his name not to be in the print, agreed with Erico, but was quick to add that the NBBF will soon find a last solution to the problem.
“We’ve been battling with the problem for a long time, but I think it is right time we looked for a lasting solution to the problem if we really want to develop the game of basketball in the country,” he said.
According to him, the NBBF will be considering organising a seminar for their umpires and coaching clinic for the coaches.
“It is our hope that the seminar and clinic will help to change the ongoing problem in the game of basketball in the country,” he added.