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By Joe Apu
Still smarting from a national basketball symposium held in Mali, FIBA-licensed coach instructor, Joe Touomo, has called for regular, structured coaching symposiums for Nigerian basketball coaches, stressing that such programmes are critical to improving their efficiency and sustaining the country’s rich basketball talent.
Touomo made the call while reflecting on the success of a recent basketball coaching symposium in Mali, where 70 coaches participated in a capacity-building programme organised by the National Association of Mali Coaches. The clinic focused on modern coaching methods, pedagogy and performance evaluation tools aimed at strengthening grassroots and elite basketball development.
According to Touomo, Nigeria’s abundance of basketball talent can only be fully maximised if coaches are continuously exposed to updated knowledge and contemporary coaching practices.
“Nigeria has an incredible pool of talent, but the coaches need to get together regularly to update themselves,” Touomo said. “Coaching education is not static. The game is evolving, and if coaches don’t evolve with it, development will suffer.”
He explained that the Mali symposium was designed to help coaches understand their true value in the development of the game, equip them with pedagogical tools to improve their effectiveness, and instil a culture of excellence built on discipline and high standards. Participants were also introduced to the concept of Details Retention Capacity, a practical method used to measure players’ improvement during training and competitive games.
Touomo described the programme as highly successful, noting the enthusiasm and hunger for knowledge displayed by the Malian coaches. He added that similar initiatives would have a transformative impact if replicated in Nigeria.
“These coaches are knowledgeable, passionate and committed, just like many we have in Nigeria,” he said. “When you empower coaches with the right tools, the players and the game benefit automatically.”
Speaking on the importance of local understanding in coaching education, Touomo emphasised that Nigeria needs facilitators who truly understand the realities faced by indigenous coaches.
“Nigeria needs all the help it can get, and it’s important to have someone who understands the problems faced by coaches in Nigeria,” he stated.
“I understand the country more than any foreign coach who wants to do this.”
Touomo, who has worked extensively across Africa through FIBA programmes including National Youth Camps, Regional Camps and Coaching Courses, commended FIBA’s commitment to coach development on the continent.
He also revealed that Mali plans to hold similar coaching clinics every four months, a model he believes Nigeria should strongly consider adopting.
The call adds to growing concerns among stakeholders that sustained coach education is essential for Nigeria to maintain its competitiveness on the African and global basketball stage.
