Sports
Kida Lauds Team Over Impressive Performance
The Nigeria Basketball Federation again etched its name on silver following another winning feat by the national under-18 boys and girls teams last Sunday in Mali at the FIBA Africa 3×3 championship.
The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engineer Musa Kida commended the teams’ efforts, adding that the country has the potentials to dominate Africa and become a strong force in world basketball with adequate planning and preparation.
This he said showed in the qualification of 4 different national basketball teams for finals of FIBA organized tournaments since the new NBBF board was sworn in on the 21st of July.
Kida expressed optimism that with better preparations, the future remains bright while still eulogizing the gold medal winning D’Tigress and the D’Tigers for performing nothing short of miracles despite limited days of Afrobasket preparations.
“Only 2 weeks camping for D’Tigers, a team that played matches at the competition without really playing together and the kind of commitment the boys had, I cannot but commend them for performing this miracle.”
Kida expressed belief that Nigeria had enough talents home and abroad to produce world class athletes with 3 of its players bagging individual awards at the Afrobasket for men.
“Our captain, Ike Diogu is the best basketballer in Africa as he was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament as he scored the most points at the tournament. Ikenna Iroegbu was also picked in the tournament’s best 5 while Afam Nwamu claimed the best 3 point shooter.”
He assured that the federation will leave no stone unturned to give the D’Tigers adequate support and preparations needed for a successful world cup qualifying campaign starting in February, 2018.
He added that with early start and better preparations for the Sam Vincent coached D’Tigress, he is confident that the team will not just be at the World cup as mere participants, but will do the nation proud.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”
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