We used 2021 Afrobasket to groom new players for Paris 2024 — Kida
The chairman, Caretaker Committee, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr Musa Kida has revealed that the just concluded 2021 Afrobasket was used as a platform to prepare rookies for future competitions. It will be recalled that a team of young and unknown players featured for the D’Tigers at the 2021 Afrobasket championship in Kigali, Rwanda but […]
D’Tigers player, Ikenna Ndugba (R) moves past a Malian player during their Group C match at the 2021 Afrobasket in Kigali, Rwanda
The chairman, Caretaker Committee, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engr Musa Kida has revealed that the just concluded 2021 Afrobasket was used as a platform to prepare rookies for future competitions.
It will be recalled that a team of young and unknown players featured for the D’Tigers at the 2021 Afrobasket championship in Kigali, Rwanda but failed deliver as they ended their campaign on a sour note losing 68-89 to lowly rated Uganda in the quarter-finals.
Speaking to journalists, Kida said the plan was a developmental move to give the rookies the much needed experience.
“In 2017, we went to Afrobasket with rookies with the majority of them now drafted into the NBA. We decided to go with a young team to bring players that will be on the world stage in three to four years time.
“We invited four home based players discovered during the National Sports Festival and other competitions organised during the year.
“To us, this is a developmental project for them to garner experience for the 2024 Olympics in Paris,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria basketball Premier League (Savannah Conference) yesterday dunked off at the Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
In the first game, Gboko City Chiefs defeated Reformers 74 – 63 while Kano Pillars thumped Nigerian Army 70 -49 in the second game.
As at the time of press, the encounters between Gombe Bulls against Defenders and Nigeria Customs versus Benue Bravers were yet to dunk-off.