The Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos is expected to be refurbished ahead of the 2017 FIBA Africa Zone 3 club championship elimination series starting on 19th, October 2017.
This was contained in a statement released by the Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Babatunde Ogunade in Lagos on Monday.
Ogunade said the move became necessary to put the venue in proper shape in readiness for the competition which will feature 16 clubs from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Liberia.
With no structural changes expected to be made, the LOC chairman said the Nigeria Basketball Federation will make the necessary facelift to some of the facilities inside the Indoor Sports hall which last hosted a continental event more than 6 years ago.
“We have concluded plans at the federation level to ensure that we put the venue in good condition to host a massive event such as this. This will be the first time in a long while that the federation will be volunteering to host an international competition, so we need to make a very bold statement.”
Ogunade also outlined some of the areas to be changed inside the indoor sports hall.
“The lights will be replaced with modern and latest energy saving industrial bulbs which will reduce the heat inside the hall, help the press carry out their duties while the players will also play without any inhibition.
“The toilets which have continued to be a major source of worry will be put in good shape because of the magnitude of this event where Nigeria will be hosting dignitaries from 8 countries alongside FIBA Africa high ranking officials.”
According to the LOC chairman “We are also going to change the floor and make it look good and in top shape for the competition. We need to make a statement with this competition between 19th to 29th of October so that we can host Africa if given the opportunity.”
Ogunade said the locker rooms will also be wearing a new look while plans have been concluded to clean the seats and bring out the beauty of the indoor sports hall.
