Coaches Demand Better Organisation in Zenith Women’s Basketball League

Following the conclusion of the first phase of the Zenith Bank/Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Women’s Basketball Premier League’s Savannah Conference in Abuja, coaches have urged organisers to improve the competition’s structure and planning, Sport360NG reports.

The opening phase, hosted at the indoor sports hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, saw teams battle for supremacy, but some coaches believe the league still has room for improvement, especially in terms of logistics and preparation.

Plateau Rocks head coach Kingdom Solomon and Air Warriors tactician Joshua Enenche both commended title sponsors Zenith Bank for their continued support but called for better organisation to elevate the women’s league to a higher standard.

“Things have started picking up gradually,” Solomon said. “The opening day didn’t meet expectations, but the competition has steadily improved since then. On the court, the level of play has been commendable, but the overall structure of the league still needs a lot more input.”

Solomon added that while Zenith Bank’s sponsorship is appreciated, he hopes for increased support to match the potential of the league.

Echoing similar sentiments, Enenche stressed the need for better communication and scheduling, saying that teams were not given sufficient time to prepare ahead of the tournament.

“Zenith Bank has done a fantastic job, but the short notice before the league kicked off was a major issue,” Enenche said. “You can’t expect teams to be at their best with such limited preparation time. Some teams were clearly underprepared, and that affects the quality of the competition and the development of women’s basketball in Nigeria.”

Despite the organisational challenges, Enenche remains optimistic about his team’s chances this season.

“Our target is the championship,” he said. “The players are giving everything, and I believe we’re capable of going all the way. But this league is filled with talented teams like the Titans, Royal Aces, and Nigerian Customs, so it’s about who can manage their squad better on and off the court.”

With phase one wrapped up in Abuja, the competition now heads to Jos, Plateau State, for phase two, which is scheduled to tip off on August 24.