The Nigeria Basketball Federation is working towards a new robust basketball season. The plans in place according to the federation boss, Tijjani Umar is to see both the DStv and Zenith leagues experience innovations that will give them a lift. The new season for the men and women’s leagues will start next month March. The NBBF after an agreement between it and its major partners Multichoice Nigeria Ltd and Zenith Bank, PLC endorsed the commencement of the2012/2013 DStv Premier League for Men to start on Saturday March 9, 2013 and Zenith Bank Women’s League for March 21 respectively.
Umar told LEADERSHIP SPORTS that the federation hopes to do something novel.”The NBBF is planning to have something novel this season especially in the Zenith League slated for Abuja. We hope to have additional things on ground for a different experience. By our plans, Zenith League will be more robust. Zenith Bank’s commitment in hosting the League is an indication they are happy with how the league and former resources were handled by us. Part of the innovation is that we are going to have additional 5 teams to make the teams 15 or 16 this season. This is to give it bite, make it more robust and add colour. Before now, winners are almost predicable but with this addition hostilities will be interesting. There will be no more relegation or teams playing in round robin format. Eight teams will drop while 8 will qualify for the final play offs. Arrival will be on the 21, technical meeting with clubs and officials on 22 while action commences on March 23 till April 6.” He revealed.
The DStv League to take place in the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos will see games being played simultaneously same day in other venues across the Atlantic and Savannah conferences. The DStv League welcomes back returnees, Plateau Peaks and new-comers Mark Mentors who are replacing Tapgun Rockets in the Savannah Conference while debutants Oluyole Warriors will taste premiership action in the Atlantic conference. The Indoor Hall, National Stadium, Abuja will host the commencement phase of the Zenith League for Women while a pre-season press briefing and cheque presentation ceremony will hold in the National Stadium, Lagos on Thursday March 28.