By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Former Nigeria’s basketball national team captain Olumide Oyedeji has appealed to Nigerian basketball stakeholders to desist from playing the ostrich in order to salvage the popular game from the looming danger threatening its developmental growth in Nigeria.
The one time NBA show boy, Olumide, Friday in chat with sports writers at the conference hall of Kano state Sports Commission KSSC located along Sani Marshal road lamented that the future of young and talented Nigerian basketball players were been shortchanged on the altar on unpatriotic interest vested in certain quarters.
He said “ we are pretenders, it is either you love the game or you love your pocket. I don’t see why we can not talk about all these things, to be honest we are taking away the name and fame of the youths.
Olumide who summarized the myriad of problem s confronting basketball development in Nigeria said they are all embedded in lack of sponsors, , maladministration and feeble organization.
“ Who is going to invest where there is trouble, what is going on in Nigerian basketball is affecting our youths. Nobody will put his money where there is crisis.” Olumide lament.
He then appealed to the private sector to relief government from the unending burden that has pervaded the sports sector, explaining that, sports without corporate participation will not yield any positive results.