Column/Feature:HOW I BECAME AN AVID SPORT SUPPORTER

By Nkechi Nwoji

From my experience in Nigeria, sport is an instrument of unity that draws people together. It is also entertainment that makes people happy. Each time we have any of our national teams or club sides play both at home and away people are drawn to cheer any of those teams. Where our teams are lucky to win, high-points of the games are discussed over and over again inside buses and at homes.

Because of the excitement that sport brings I did not waste time to join the Nigeria Football Supporters club which was the in thing in the 1980’s and 1990s.

In 1995, the Nigeria Basketball Federation inaugurated the Nigeria Basketball Premier League, an elite Premier league for men. Following the start of the men league in 1995, one of the clubs Dodan Warrior formed their fan club for the team which followed the team all around the country. It was the innovation by Dodan Warrior that informed the decision of people of like mind including myself to now form a basketball supporters Club. My time was now shared between supporting football and basketball. As time went on, there became a need to inaugurate a group to direct the affairs of the Nigeria Basketball Supporters club, called “THE HOOPERS”.

By 1997 when the Nigeria Men Basketball National team, “THE TIGERS”qualified for world Championship in Greece, there became a need to have an executive that will direct the affairs of the club. I was a member of the electoral committee that elected an executive for the basketball supporters club.

It was that leadership that worked with the Nigeria Basketball Federation to include the basketball supporters club as part of the official delegation to Greece being the first world championship we were going to participate in.

From that time my interest in basketball grew and it took more of my time away from football. My love for sport have continued to grow without ceasing and I have enjoyed every moment spent supporting the Men and Women Basketball National teams  as well as club sides representing the country in continental events.

As a member of “THE HOOPERS”, I have followed basketball teams to Greece and several Africa countries like Angola, Egypt, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire and have never had any regrets.