A sponsor of Nigerian basketball has urged the country's private sector to take a leading role in coaching development, saying many aspiring coaches lack the certifications needed to work abroad. Speaking at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Mark said he was funding the training of 20 coaches, most of them former players moving into coaching.
Mark, who runs the Mark D' Ball Championship, said the trainees cannot function on the international scene without recognised qualifications. The initiative is designed to strengthen links between his championship and the NIS while building a pool of qualified coaches for grassroots and elite work.
He disclosed that the Mark D' Ball Championship plans to set up an academy and could hire some of the NIS-trained coaches as part of its structure. Mark also expressed interest in working with FIBA to improve coaching standards and create clearer international pathways for Nigerian coaches.
The push comes amid wider calls for more investment in coaching, grassroots structures and technical education as Nigeria tries to build a sustainable basketball system beyond individual talent.
