Players and coaches at
the ongoing 10th Zenith Bank National Female Basketball League in Ilorin have praised the organisation of the competition.
The players and coaches told newsmen in Ilorin that the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) had further enlivened the sport with the competition.
The Captain of the Nigeria Customs team, Theresa Samuel, said the competition so far was a success, noting that the NBBF had put its expertise in place for a well-organised competition.
Samuel, who also described the organiation as brilliant, however, urged the NBBF to fulfill its promise of insuring the players in case of serious injury.
Abimbola Olumodeji, the Assistant Captain of the Nigeria Customs, said the competition was improving year by year and urged the federation to sustain the tempo.
She also urged the federation to improve on the financial benefits of the players to motivate them.
For Jennifer Johnwestley, a player with Taraba Hurricanes, the female competition has lived up to female players’ hope, especially the upcoming ones.
Johnwestley added that the success of the competition would not only brighten most of the spectators’ desire to take to basketball.
The player, however, urged the NBBF to further improve the sport in the country by organising similar competitions for secondary schools in the country.
A player, Abosede Amao of Oluyole Babes, said that they were enjoying the competition and thanked the NBBF for putting the programme together.
Amao also commended the sponsors for the development of female basketball in the country.
Blessing Alozie, who plays for Ahip Queens, urged the NBBF to improve on accommodation and pay the teams their dues on time to enable them to start preparations on time.
The Team Manager of First Deep Water, Abayomi Adeoyo, said the competition had come to stay because it kept improving yearly and urged the NBBF to maintain the standard.
Adeoye called on corporate bodies to support government’s effort to further develop the sport by sponsoring the competition.
Coach Dauda Uduoje of Taraba Hurricanes, said his team was new and that the management was trying to bring the player up.
Uduoje added that the competition had, however, assisted the club to achieve its dreams.