President of Comets Basketball Club of Lagos and former D’Tigers coach, Ayodele Bakare, has cautioned stakeholders in Nigerian basketball against repeating what he described as mistakes made during the emergence of the outgoing Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board leadership.
Bakare, in a strongly worded statement on the ongoing debate over the next NBBF leadership, questioned the growing influence of individuals who, according to him, have only recently become prominent in Nigerian basketball.
He alleged that a familiar pattern was emerging, where a wealthy individual with limited history in the sport suddenly becomes involved through basketball clinics, tournaments, prize money and other financial interventions before being presented as a potential solution to the game’s challenges.
“Do you remember the things that swayed us to settle for our outgoing NBBF Board President?” Bakare asked.
The former D’Tigers coach said he understood why some stakeholders could be influenced by financial support, particularly amid the economic difficulties facing many Nigerians, but urged them to consider the long-term implications of their decisions.
Bakare also questioned the record of the outgoing NBBF leadership, describing the last eight years as, in his view, the worst period in the history of Nigerian basketball administration.
He further claimed that previous promises of personal financial investment in the sport did not materialise as expected, alleging that stakeholders instead heard about loans and refunds.
While making his position clear ahead of the next NBBF election, Bakare said he would prefer a candidate with a lengthy record of grassroots development and youth basketball support.
“I would rather give my support to someone who has been running grassroots programmes and supporting youth development for the past twenty-five years, than someone who has recently dazzled with a few well-placed interventions over the recent year or two,” he said.
Bakare added that he would favour a former player who had “served Nigeria in the trenches” and therefore understood the challenges confronting young basketball players.
He also identified international acceptance and experience in sports administration as qualities he believes should be considered in choosing the next NBBF president.
“I would rather support someone with a proven track record and experience in sports administration, than someone whose sudden overnight interest in heading Nigerian basketball administration, I can’t explain,” he stated.
Bakare warned stakeholders against allowing short-term financial interventions to determine the direction of Nigerian basketball for another four-year tenure.
“The script is familiar, especially as it is promoted by the same people who rode on it to enslave Nigerian basketball for the last eight years,” he said.
Concluding his statement, Bakare invoked the familiar warning, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!”
“I remember. Do you?” he asked
