NBBF elections: Igoche Mark eyes North Central ticket, pledges basketball courts

Ahead of the 2021 elections into the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), a leading aspirant, Igoche Mark, has promised to provide more basketball courts for accelerated development of the game, if he is elected to represent the north central zone on the board of the NBBF. Speaking to Daily Trust, the proprietor of Mark Mentors and […]

Ahead of the 2021 elections into the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), a leading aspirant, Igoche Mark, has promised to provide more basketball courts for accelerated development of the game, if he is elected to represent the north central zone on the board of the NBBF.

Speaking to Daily Trust, the proprietor of Mark Mentors and Apa Flames which are Premier League and National Division One teams respectively said he has the backing of major stakeholders in the zone to represent them on the NBBF board.

The sponsor of the annual Mark D’Ball annual tournament also said he has since mapped out programmes that would make the north-central zone the hub of basketball in the country.

“I have been approached by a lot of people who come to ask why don’t you go for this?  I have been told to go and represent the north central and push to see how we can develop basketball in the zone.

“One of the things that we lack is basketball courts. We don’t have enough. Courts are key to basketball development. Basketball is not like football where you can play in any available spaces by using two stones to represent goal posts.

“Basketball equipment is not easy to come by. By the grace of God, if I am elected, that is something that I will do. I will try to build as many courts as possible to encourage the development of the game.

“My major concern will be the development of basketball at the grassroots. I will do everything to discover and bring up young players. I believe in catching them young. I am also confident that once we have enough basketball courts, more people would pick interest in the game.”

Mark, therefore, said in as much as the October 30 election is not going to be a stroll in the park, he is confident he would be elected to represent the north-central zone on the new NBBF board.

Niger, Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kwara and the FCT make up the north-central zone.