D’Tigress players have threatened to boycott the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers if the Nigeria Basketball Federation continues to treat them poorly.
In a video posted on the team’s official Instagram on Tuesday, the players accused Caretaker Chairman of the NBBF, Musa Ahmadu-Kida, of neglecting the team during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2021 Afrobasket – which they won.
The team also accused the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the NBBF of withholding their bonuses and allowances, totalling $197,118, which included the $100,000 donated to them just before the Olympics.
Galatasaray center, Victoria Macaulay, who spoke first, said the NBBF had refused to host the team after winning the Afrobasket in 2019 and 2021.
“We want to say thank you to the Nigerian embassy in Cameroon for celebrating us, we appreciate you more than you know. Other than that, we do not feel appreciated or celebrated after achieving this historical feat.
“In 2017, we won the Afrobasket championship and three days later, we were presented to the father of the nation, his Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, and his entire cabinet by the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, as customary with a handshake. We have defended our championship and brought back the trophy in 2019 and in 2021 which is historical, but still, no invitation has been extended to the team to visit Aso Rock or a presidential handshake,” Macaulay said.
D’Tigress point guard Promise Amukamara added, “The president of the NBBF said the federation does not owe any player, official or volunteers, this is far from the truth. The last time we checked, our allowances, stipends, bonuses, training grants and donations made by banks for players, officials and volunteers have not been paid.” Small forward Ify Ibekwe gave a breakdown of the money owed the team.
“We are owed $73,118 from the NBBF, $24,000 from the ministry of sports for the Tokyo grants and $100,000 from donations from three banks in Nigeria,” Ibekwe said in the video.
One of the team’s point guard Ezinne Kalu alleged that Ahamdu-Kida did not visit the team in camp or during competitions.
“Ever since our general manager and team manager resigned, we feel like we have been marginalised. The federation leadership like the former president never shows up for camps or competitions to boost our morale. When we have significant concerns and issues that need to be addressed, when he does show up, he gives vague answers as if our concerns aren’t important to him, but when we win, they magically show up for photo-ups and celebrations for political gains.
“Musa Ahmadu-Kida was not in Cameroon, but somehow, he showed up in Abuja to take pictures and lift the trophy again, for political gain,” she said.
Speaking on their experiences at the Olympics, center Oderah Chidom and power forward Atonye Nyingifa said the squad crashed out of the Tokyo Olympics in the group stage due distractions and lack of attention from officials.
News Credit : Punch
