2026 NBBF Men's League Phase II: Upgraded Enugu venue earns praise despite minor disruptions

Posted : 23 June 2026

The upgraded indoor sports hall in Enugu has emerged as one of the highlights of the ongoing Phase Two of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball Men's League (NPBL), despite minor equipment and power-related disruptions recorded during the opening rounds.

The second phase of the league tipped off over the weekend across designated centres, with the Enugu venue attracting attention following improvements to its facilities ahead of the competition.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) upgraded the hall's lighting system and installed a brand-new basketball upright supplied by Webber Engineering in Lagos to enhance playing conditions.

South East representative on the NBBF Board, Ugo Udezue, who facilitated the upgrades, explained that although a comprehensive renovation of the facility was planned, logistical challenges delayed some aspects of the work.

"We had already decided to improve the lighting and replace the upright before the previous one got damaged," Udezue said.

"As we know, the hall is not owned by the NBBF, just as the equipment is shared, as in other centres. However, we decided to improve everything here.

"We couldn't complete the planned installations before Sunday because of a slight delay involving the manufacturers at the Lagos airport.

"There is no big deal about a power failure during a competition. We are all familiar with electricity challenges here. Even in the biggest leagues around the world, backboards get broken. These things happen," he added.

Also reacting to concerns raised over the temporary power outage, South East Basketball Association Media Manager, Kennedy Onwunali, urged stakeholders to focus on the significance of hosting the elite league in the region rather than isolated incidents.

According to Onwunali, the competition represents a major milestone for basketball development in the South East.

"Power failure in sports is not a new story. Unfortunately, some people have chosen to overlook the bigger picture and concentrate on a temporary challenge instead of celebrating the progress made in bringing the Nigeria Premier Basketball League to the South East," he said.

He maintained that the successful staging of the league in Enugu demonstrates the region's growing capacity to host top-level basketball competitions and expressed confidence that the remaining fixtures would proceed smoothly.

The infrastructure upgrades in Enugu mark a pivotal step toward elevating the standard of domestic basketball facilities across Nigeria. Despite temporary logistical and electrical hitches, the commitment of the NBBF and regional administrators remains focused on long-term development. With the elite division fixtures set to continue, stakeholders are optimistic that the competition will foster sustainable growth for the sport in the South East.

2026 NBBF Men's League Phase II: Upgraded Enugu venue earns praise despite minor disruptions

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