Basket ball: Dolphins pull out of continental showpiece

· As first Bank, Kano Pillars confirm participation

FIBA Africa Zone Three has confirmed that Dolphins Basketball Club has pulled out of this year’s Zonal competition in Togo, which also serves as qualifiers for the African championship.

Administrative Secretary, FIBA Africa Zone Three, Joe Apu, who disclosed this at the weekend said the management of Dolphins gave no reason for its team’s withdrawal in a letter signed by the team’s coach, Okworogun Ochuko.

Apu stated that the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) sent the letter to FIBA Africa, which in turn sent it to FIBA Africa Zone Three headed by Col Sam Ahmedu (rtd). He stated that Dolphins withdrawal came as a shock and said effort had been made to reach the proprietor of the team, Wale Aboderin.

“We have put a call through to Wale Aboderin to know why his team pulled out of the event. He has not picked his call, but we still hope to reach him and find out why he decided to pull his team out of the championship,” Apu added.

Dolphins have feature regularly in FIBA Africa events and finished second Zone three last year behind First Bank and also finished fifth at the Africa championship in Angola.

With this development, the team that finished third in the Zenith Bank Women Basketball l League can take Dolphins spot and vie for a place in the FIBA Africa champions Cup for women in Mozambique in December.