Nigeria will soon dominate basketball on international stage, the president of the basketball federation Umar Tijjani has assured.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) president gave the assurance during the closing ceremony of the Giant of Africa Big Man Basketball Camp at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja on Friday.
Tijjani praised the organisers of the camp for their foresight, describing such avenues as the engine room for the growth of the game in Nigeria.
“We have not been able to play at youth competitions for the past two years because we want to win and win clean, not by cheating. We want to be fair because we do not want 20 year olds representing us at U-17 competitions. And we believe when we get things right and start winning, we will continue to dominate,” he said.
He further commended the fledgling teenagers (between 14-18 years of age) for their promptness at the camp, adding they would be mostly considered for invitation to the national Under-17 camp in preparation for the Africa Under-17 championship billed for Botswana.
The Africa Under-17 championship also serves as qualifiers for the Youth Olympics which holds in China.
“Ive spoken with your coaches and the bulk of you (players) will be at the camp. We are building on what has been started and we are proud to be working with the FCT in discovering talents from schools. We are doing something similar with Lagos State,” he added.
Culled from Afrobasket.
