Coaches in the Zenith Bank/Nigeria Basketball Federation Women’s Basketball Premier League have called for improvements in the organisation of the competition following the conclusion of phase 1 of the Savannah Conference at the indoor sports hall, Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Plateau Rocks head coach Kingdom Solomon and his Air Warriors counterpart Joshua Enenche praised Zenith Bank’s sponsorship but urged the organisers to enhance the overall structure of the league.
“I think things are gradually picking up. The first day was not what I expected compared to what I am seeing now. The initial day was a bit subdued, but the second day saw significant improvements, and things have continued to get better,” Solomon said.
“I believe everything is going well in terms of the physicality of the game itself. However, when it comes to the league as a whole, I think it needs improvement because what we are witnessing requires additional support. The sponsor, Zenith Bank, has performed well, but we would like them to do even better.”
Enenche emphasised the need for organisers to provide participating teams with adequate notice to prepare for the competition, arguing that proper preparation time is essential for the development of Nigerian women’s basketball.
“First and foremost, I must say that Zenith Bank has done a great job, but the timeframe given for the commencement of the league was not encouraging at all,” Enenche said.
“I would advise that they work on this to ensure that most teams have ample time to prepare adequately for the competition. You cannot simply announce a date and expect everyone to be ready. Observing the current state of the league, it is evident that some teams were not fully prepared, which does not bode well for the growth of Nigeria’s Female Basketball League.”
Despite the challenges, Enenche expressed confidence in his team’s championship prospects while acknowledging the strength of the competition.
“Our focus is to claim the championship, and we are diligently working towards that. I believe this season is ours, given the efforts we are putting in and the collective determination of the players,” he said.
“In this premier league, all players are professionals, and there are many strong teams such as the Titans, Royal Aces, and Nigerian Customs. I see experienced players in teams, just like in my own. Therefore, how we manage our players technically is what keeps the team going.”
With phase 1 concluded in Abuja, attention now turns to Jos, Plateau State, where phase 2 will commence on August 24.
