Basketball: Bakare named NBBF Technical Director

Fresh into the new season, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has appointed a Technical Director to drive its 2013 to 2017 Strategic Plan aimed at developing its leagues and programmes.

After considering a number of candidates, the federation settled for former national coach, Ayo Bakare.

Bakare is expected to bring additional impetus and experience to the job, which involves implementing, supervising and diversifying the various initiatives of the federation.

The new Technial Director, who has since resumed duty with the federation, has served as head coach on several teams within the national team programme and has won medals on the African continent at junior and senior (men and women) categories.

Coach Ayo Bakare Watches D'Tigers' Match from the Touchline.
Coach Ayo Bakare Watches D’Tigers’ Match from the Touchline.

It will be noted that Coach Bakare was incharge of the Nigeria senior men national team when the country won her first ever medal at the Afrobasket in 1995, Bakare otherwise known as ‘WAKA’ won five of the six medals Nigeria won between 1995 and 2011 at the Afrobasket for Men, which includes three silver medals (1997, 1999 and 2003) and two bronze medals (1995 and 2011).

He also helped Nigeria qualify for her first-ever FIBA Mens and Womens World Championships in 1998 and 2006, as well as the Olympic Games in 2012, for which he was honoured by FIBA Africa.

Full Report on afrobasket.com.