The Minister of Sports and Youth development, Sunday Dare has declared that the recent impressive performance of the male senior national basketball team, D’Tigers is a strong indication that a positive revolution will soon take place in Nigerian basketball.
The Minister made this assertion yesterday in his office when the president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Eng. Musa Kida paid him a courtesy visit after returning from the just concluded FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.
Dare said “My position is consistent that beyond football, Nigeria has talents and competences in several other sports and our ascendancy in basketball is no longer stoppable.
“That ascendancy has been proven. We are Africa Champions in both male and female. We are headed to the Olympics. It has never happened before and that shows that beyond football, Basketball has come to stay.
“We are Africa Champions and we are a dominant force in the world. We are happy that our team is in the hands of good administrators and managers. Beyond the good talents that we have put together, we also need capable hands to manage them.
“These are the people that have set their eyes on podium performance and I am sure many other Nigerians will join the basketball revolution.”
The Minister also said his administration will ensure that the revolution in basketball transcends the National team.
He, therefore, pledged to encourage basketball development at grassroots just as he disclosed plans to have a basketball court in at least one Senatorial district in the country.
Dare said this is a commitment that is being shared by the NBBF and the Federal Ministry of Sports.
On his part, Engr. Kida said Nigeria’s ascendance was made possible by good planning, commitment of the players and engagement of one of the best coaches in the NBA.
It will be recalled that D’Tigers defeated South Sudan, Rwanda and Mali to top Group B of the Afro Basketball qualifier series hosted in Kigali, Rwanda.
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