By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@ YawMintYM on Twitter
Ahead of the 2017 Nigeria Basketball League, 142 officials have undergone refresher training by the country’s Basketball Federation.
In all 54 Coaches, 16 Statisticians and 72 Referees went through the course. Successful participants were given refresher certifications in Abuja, Nigeria.
Veteran Referee Babatunde Popoola said, “the area of officiating was talked about with a view for them to do their jobs according to the rules of the game” in an interview with FIBA.com.
The Nigerian League is set to begin next month after officials secured a $12 million sponsorship deal for the next five years. The Women’s League has also extended its deal with Zenith Bank for three more years.
Reigning League Champions Kano Pillars won the top prize at the FIBA Zone Three Africa Championship before placing fourth at the Africa Champions Cup in Egypt.
The side was heavily represented at the Basketball Awards with two nominations in the Best Male Player of the Year category.
Dele Ademola won the top prize.
