Revealed: Why Dstv, NBBF parted ways

FRESH facts have emerged at the weekend as to why the major sponsors of national basketball league championship, Dstv, discontinued with the sponsorship of the male national basketball league.

Investigation by Tribunesport revealed that internal wrangling among top members of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) played a major role in the case.

Tribunesports gathered that a top member of Lagos State Basketball Association who is very close to Multichoice was alleged to have painted the NBBF board in bad light.

Tribunesport was also informed that Dstv was not really happy with the poor turnout of spectators at the national finals of the Dstv/NBBF.

“However, a source said: “It is untrue to say that NBBF failed to seek renewal of the sponsorship deal because the two bodies met on three occasions to discuss renewal. Representatives of the two bodies were also in attendance.”

It was disclosed to Tribunesports that a former commissioner of Sport in Lagos State pleaded with the Dstv not to discontinue with the sponsorship but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Dstv, according to the source was said to have decided that rather than being in the middle of the two factions or seen to be favourable to a party, it would rather stay away.

Meanwhile, NBBF President, Tijani Umar explained that the federation maintained cordial relationship with Dstv.

‘No ill feelings, Dstv were there for us for eight years at a time there was nobody to support us. So we are ever so grateful to them” Umar told Tribunesport on phone on Sunday.