Basketball: Igoche Mark Hosts Mak Town Flyers to Lavish Victory Reception in Abuja
By Raphael Ekpang
Nigeria’s lead basketball promoter and initiator of Mark D’Ball Basketball Championship, Igoche Mark, threw a lavish reception in honour of Mak Town Flyers, the deserving champions of the 2025 NBBF abridged league.
The reception was a testament to the support and appreciation for Lagos Legends Basketball Club’s outstanding performance in the NBBF abridged league, and served as encouragement to the club ahead of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) next year.
The gathering brought together prominent figures in Nigerian basketball, including NBBF board members Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd) and Coach Scott Enaji, among others.
Speaking at the reception, Igoche Mark expressed his delight at seeing a club owned by his former player emerge as champions of the NBBF abridged league despite all odds.
“They have done something that has never been done before. Many didn’t expect them to come this far, but they proved everyone wrong,” he said. “I have faith in them. By the time they get to the BAL, they will make Nigeria proud and set the best record we’ve ever had.”
Mark also restated the urgent need to revive Nigeria’s traditional league structure, one that once featured home-and-away fixtures, a full-season calendar, and clear progression to the playoffs.
“We’re not asking for the moon. We only want what we used to have. Our league once ran for months with home and away games before the Final Eight. Bringing that system back is key to growing basketball in Nigeria,” he added.
Reflecting on the team’s rise, Mark said it was proof of Nigeria’s abundant talent and the remarkable potential of young players when provided with adequate support.
“These boys came together barely a year ago and have achieved what many established teams could not. Beating the defending champions on their home court shows true grit and promise,” he noted.
The owner of Mak Town Flyers, Akerannan Manusseh Achii, shared the emotional and challenging journey that transformed the team, formerly Lagos Legends, into national champions.
“It was a tedious journey,” he said. “I bought the team just two and a half weeks before the league started. Getting players, funding, logistics—everything was tough. But I’m grateful to God and the players for this victory.”
General Manager of NTA 24 Sports, Kayode Adeniyi, commended the team’s doggedness, saying their exceptional drive distinguished them throughout the season.
He reflected on the excitement and glamour basketball once enjoyed in Nigeria, lamenting how administrative crises dimmed the sport’s appeal, and appealed to all stakeholders to revive the game for the benefit of the nation.
“I am appealing to Nigerians and everyone interested in basketball to do everything within their reach to bring the game back to life in this country,” he urged.
Meanwhile, Col. Ahmedu (rtd) pledged the NBBF’s support for Mak Town ahead of the Basketball Africa League, stressing that they deserve the support of all stakeholders in the continental showpiece.
Ahmedu apologized to Nigerians for the inability of the Musa Kida-led NBBF to organize a full premier league in the last five years, praying that the incoming NBBF board would have the courage and integrity to reposition basketball in Nigeria.
