NBBF President urges players to respect social distancing, isolation



President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engineer Ahmed Musa-Kida has charged the country’s players to ensure they maintain all rules of social-distancing and self-isolation as spelt out by the Federal Government in throughout the coronavirus pandemic period.


Musa-Kida said the order is a very hard one for the players but they have no choice as it is for their own safety and wellbeing.
Musa-Kida enjoined Nigerian players, coaches, fans and other basketball stakeholders in the country to fall in line with all directives as it affects other countries across the world in order to stay in good health.


The NBBF boss commended International Olympics Committee (IOC) for postponing this year’s Olympic Games, which had been billed to begin July 24 in Tokyo, Japan, as he noted that concentrating on staying safe during the coronavirus scourge would allow sports personalities and athletes to prepare for the Games next year.


With the Games now put off until next year, Musa-Kida reckoned that, although it was a difficult decision to postpone the iconic event, it was the best step IOC and Japan could have taken, as it ultimately means thinking positively for the safety of all impending participants.


While adding that there is a need for all governments around the world to unite in the fight against COVID-19, Musa-Kida concluded that seeing all the players being socially responsible will also help to reduce the spread of the highly contagious and deadly respiratory infection.


Musa-Kida posited: “It is crucial for basketball players in Nigeria and abroad to know the importance of social distancing and self-quarantine as being promoted by the World Health Organisation and medical personnel as a key step in breaking the chain of the viral infection.


“At this crucial time, we must realise that only those who are alive can play basketball. We must place premium value on our lives and pay attention to our hygiene. Constantly washing of hands and the use of sanitizers can also stem the spread,” he explained.

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