Head Coach of Nigeria senior men basketball team D’Tigers, Ayo Bakare, has shed more light on the reason for the exclusion of Chamberlain ‘The Champ’ Oguchi from his squad for the 2013 edition of Afrobasket currently going on in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Coach Bakare said basketball continental governing body, Fibaafrica advised the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) not to feature Oguchi in this year’s competition as against the backdrop of the withdrawal of his clearance of participation pending the completion of their investigation of some issues with his Spanish club, CB Gran Canaria.
“Fiba just advised that we do not play him because his clearance to play in this tournament has been temporarily suspended until they conclude their investigation on issues they have not disclosed. The issue, I learnt has to do with his club in Spain and not the national team,” Bakare said.
Coach Bakare noted that his side immediately “adjusted” to the vacuum the unfortunate development had bred, on learning of his absence some few days to the commencement of their match against Mali.
“We have been in touch to tell us the reason for this action at this time and I must confess to you that it is a blow to us as he is the pivot of our team,” he added.
“We have already readjusted our strategies to accommodate the unfortunate incident.”
According to the coach, both the Liga ACB side and the NBBF are still in contact with Fiba in order to put an end to the issue, for the player to link up with the squad in Abidjan.
