Nigeria’s foremost basketball patron and founder of the Mark D’Ball Basketball Championship, Igoche Mark, has celebrated the triumphant Mark Town Flyers with a high-profile reception following their historic victory in the 2025 NBBF abridged league.
The event, held in honour of the team formerly known as Lagos Legends, brought together key stakeholders in Nigerian basketball, including NBBF board members Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd) and Coach Scott Enaji. The gathering doubled as an appreciation of the club’s remarkable league performance and a morale booster as they prepare for their debut in next year’s Basketball Africa League (BAL).
In his remarks, Mark expressed immense pride in witnessing the success of a club owned by one of his former players.
He praised the Flyers for defying expectations, stating that their achievement “has never been done before” and reaffirming his belief that the team will “make Nigeria proud” on the continental stage.
Mark used the moment to reiterate his long-standing call for the revival of Nigeria’s traditional basketball league structure—one that once featured home-and-away fixtures, a full season calendar, and a clear progression to the playoffs.
He emphasized that restoring this system is crucial for rebuilding the sport’s credibility and developmental pathway.
Team owner, Akerannan Manusseh Achii, shared the emotional journey behind the club’s rapid transformation into national champions, recalling the daunting task of assembling and funding the team barely weeks before the league commenced.
He appealed to Nigerians and basketball enthusiasts to support efforts to revive the sport’s lost glamour and stability.
In a candid moment, Col. Ahmedu (rtd) pledged the federation’s backing for the Flyers ahead of the BAL and issued an apology to basketball fans for the federation’s failure to run a full premier league over the last five years.
He expressed hope that the incoming NBBF board would demonstrate the integrity and courage required to reposition Nigerian basketball.
With the Flyers’ historic run and renewed calls for structural reform, the reception underscored both the promise of Nigeria’s emerging talent and the urgent need for systemic rebuilding within the nation’s basketball ecosystem.
