A former international, Pastor Skambo Morrison has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the national women basketball team, D’Tigress at the ongoing FIBA Women’s World Cup in Tenerife, Spain.
The gallant D’Tigress exited the championship after losing 40-71 to defending champions, the United States of America in the quarter final match.
Although D’Tigress lost their opening match 68-86 to Australia, they bounced back to record three consecutive victories against Turkey 74-68, Argentina 75-70 and Greece 57-56 points to reach their first ever quarter-final.
Reacting to D’Tigress historic outing, Skambo gave the ladies a pat on the back just as he attributed the feat to long build up that he said started in the time of Tijanni Umar, the factional president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF.
He explained that most of the players in the present D’Tigress squad were scouted by the technical team that was assembled by Umar.
“I am extremely happy with the performance of D’Tigress in Spain. I am impressed having this kind of team on the continent of Africa, especially my own country Nigeria.
“I give credit to the girls and their coaches. They should keep their heads high up.
“This didn’t happen by accident. It is as a result of long build up that started when the team was put together by the Tijanni Umar led board.
“They were able to go for the first championship. Then they went for the World Cup qualifiers. They went for the Afro Women Basketball championship which they won. So it was part of the build up,” he explained.
Skambo also said if the Nigerian basketball house was in order, D’Tigress and other national teams would bring more honour to the country in future.
He said FIBA is doing a lot to ensure that normalcy returns to Nigerian basketball.
“Once your house is in order and things are working in the way they are supposed to work, you will be surprised these same girls will go back and successfully defend their Afrobasket title next year.
“It will become a heritage. This can’t happen if there is no store house. By store house, I mean stability in the Nigeria Basketball Federation.
“Once there is peace and stability which FIBA is doing its best to put in place, no player will be afraid to come and play for Nigeria,” he stated.
