NBBF consoles with Sokoto basketball association as coach dies in bus crash

THE Nigeria Basketball Federation has expressed sadness and sympathised with players of Sokoto State Basketball Association who were involved in a ghastly crash on Monday while returning from Kebbi.

The team went to neighbouring Kebbi State for a tune-up game and their bus was involved in a fatal head-on collision with a utility vehicle on their way back home.

Unfortunately, the head coach of the team, Elisha Jatau, who was driving the bus, was declared dead hours after the crash due to injuries sustained in the accident.

The North West Zonal representative on the Nigeria Basketball Federation board, Yusuf Surajo, who briefed the board about the development said: “Sad time for the Sokoto basketball fraternity and the Nigerian basketball community in general. “We were optimistic before that no life would be lost. Many of them sustained various degrees of injuries ranging from broken legs to hip injuries.

“We are sad to hear about coach Elisha’s death few hours after undergoing emergency surgery.”

The affected players are currently receiving treatment at the Teaching Hospital, Sokoto while others have been transferred to Orthopaedic Hospital within the state.

 “Thanks to the intervention of the NBBF President, we were able to raise some funds and transfer the affected players to the hospital where they are currently receiving the best of treatments,” Surajo explained.

He prayed that the soul of the departed find solace in the bosom of God while wishing other players who are still at the hospital a quick recovery.