Ogunade, Adoki Extol Balogun’s Book on B’ball Growth in Nigeria

Femi Solaja

The Vice-president of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Babs Ogunade, has commended the initiative of coach Mark Balogun for his initiative in writing a book for beginners of the game of basketball.

At a well-attended ceremony at Police College, in Ikeja which attracted several stake holders of the sport, Ogunade noted that the effort of the author will no doubt bosst the development of the game for the young lads who are interested in basketball and many who would have encouraged to embrace it.

The book titled Understanding the Game Baketball, is an attempt at simplifying the fundamentals of the game of basketball to beginners.

Ogunade said the book could not have come at a better time. “The book is a welcome development as it captures the history and essence of basketball. We lack data, statistics in this country and that is the gap Balogun has attempted to fill in his book,” he remarked.

In the same vein, veteran basketball coach, teacher and Technical Director of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketbal Federation, O’Brien Atoki, also commended the author for impactful effort at elevating the game beyond what can be imagined.

“Do you want to understand and play basketball? If you are skilled, what about the rudiments, the history of how basketball started in Nigeria?” Atoki added that all the answers were provided in the book.

He said the book also teaches the basics of the game. “Movement with or without the ball, when to dribble and when to release the ball and many more.

The author, Balogun said that it’s a book for lecturers, teachers, coaches, trainers, players and beginners.

He said the 87-page book was a child of necessity. “I realised that most of our coaches lack the basic knowledge of the game and you can’t give what you don’t have,” he said.

Adding that concerned about the negative impact the wrong teachings of basic skills could have on the younger ones. “I noticed that most basketball coaches are quacks and I feel bad when I see people teaching wrong skills. I just felt the only way to change all that was putting the correct thing in print, hence my decision to write this book,” he remarked.