The Basketball Player Association of Nigeria (BAPAN) last Monday, August 10 , elected Ejike Ugboaja as the new president of the body.
The former National Basketball Association (NBA) draft from Union Bank Basketball Club of Lagos floored former president of the association, Umar Bala and Tijani Idris, polling a total of 25 votes to emerge with a unanimous decision of accredited delegates.
In his acceptance speech, the soft spoken Ugboaja who was part of the D’ Tigers team to the 2012 Olympics Games and the team that qualified Nigeria for the 2015 All Africa Games and Afrobasket Nations Cup, thanked all present for reposing so much trust in him as he promised to run all inclusive body as they tried to reposition the game of basketball in Nigeria.
He described the process that led to his emergence and his eventual emergence as a new dawn for former and current league players in Nigeria.
He said: “As the president, I am trying to get all players together as a unit and give them right orientation to know their rights in the game of basketball.
He refuted claims that the body was resuscitated to fight the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) pledging that members of the body will do their best to forge an alliance with the NBBF so as to ensure a lasting relationship with the federation and clubs which will create a working synergy between the bodies.
He concluded that BAPAN will make sure that all intending and current league players return to the four walls of the class room to acquire the necessary formal education which will help them to have life outside basketball promising to dialogue with the federation and clubs in the league to provide a comprehensive insurance plains for all players.
