Former head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national basketball team and technical director, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Ayo Bakare, has stepped down from his position at the basketball federation.
Bakare announced his decision at a media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, four months after being confirmed head of the technical committee of the NBBF.
In his statement to the press, Mr Bakare said “After due consideration of my personal commitments at this time I have decided to withdraw from my role as the technical director of the federation .This is not a sudden decision but is made after a lot of consideration, discussion and consultation between the federation and l “.
He further went onto allay fears of dissatisfaction or disagreement with the federation, saying “I remain irrevocably committed to the progress and success of this current NBBF administration and will continue to support and serve Nigerian basketball as sincerely as I have in the past 25 years or more years. Regardless of whether I am in an active or reduced role I pledge my support for the federation and urge you (the Press) to continue to support NBBF for the uplifting of Nigerian Basketball”.
The 54-year-old ex-Ebun Comets coach has been instrumental in Nigeria’s rise as a basketball nation, leading ‘D’Tigers’ to their first ever qualification for the Olympics two years ago in London, and appearances in the FIBA World Championship (1998) and the 2008 Olympics (Women). He also led DTigers to several FIBA-Africa mens tournaments, and finished in second place on three occasions (1997, 1999 and 2003).
