31 December 2013

NIGERIA : Mark, Ugboaja Call for Inclusion of Home-Based Players in D'Tigers

A Board Member of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Igoche Mark, Monday called for the inclusion of home-based players in the national male basketball team, D' Tigers.
Mark, the founder and organiser of the yearly "Mark D Ball" Tournament in Otukpo, told NAN that the board was determined to secure wild card for D'Tigers to the FIBA 2014 World Championship.
According to him, efforts have been committed to actualising the wild card project.
Mark noted that the country has talented home-based players going by the number of discoveries at the ongoing championship, which included the "Face of Idoma" Sports Beauty Pageant.
The board member advised that home-based players should be given the opportunity to develop the Nigeria basketball league.
"Judging from what is going on right now in this tournament, I can say that more talents have been discovered for the country's basketball team.
"We have confronted the coach on this issue and we were made to understand that there was an open camp where all the players will fight for shirts," Mark said.
Also speaking, a national team player and an ex-Olympian, Ejike Ugboaja, urged national basketball coach, Ayo Bakare, to desist from relying much on foreign-based players.
Ugboaja, who recently moved to Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Basketball Club in Turkey, equally called on Bakare to give the home-based players an opportunity to be part of the senior national basketball team.

Comments: Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?