18 March 2006
NIGERIA: Nigeria Battle India As Vmobile League Begins
It is clearly a season of basketball for Nigeria as slam and dunk action begin for Nigeria at home and abroad starting from today. While the male and female national players face India and Malaysia respectively today at the Commonwealth Games, the men at home are action programmed with the Vmobile Premier League taking the first jump ball at the National Stadium, Lagos tomorrow.
After a very long rest from the Commonwealth Basketball competition, the national teams are returning to action with the Melbourne 2006 Games, which got flagged off by Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday. Nigerians may know very little about India in terms of basketball but everyone has a first time opportunity to see India basketball today.
Before the male team boarded the long flight to Melbourne, they expressed their scanty knowledge about India basketball. On paper, the Nigerian team is expected to overcome their opponents even with the slightest margin but many analysts say it is best to wait until the buzzer before making any statement.
The real work for the guys will come on Sunday when they step out against hosts and basketball powerhouse, Australia. Like Nigeria, the hosts are not fielding their very best crop of players but still tradition counts in favour of the Oceanic nation.
Before the players departed Murtala Muhammed Airport for Melbourne the men's Coach Sani Ahmed told THISDAYSport that they were not underrating any opponent.
"We are neither going to look down on the so-called unknown teams nor get worried over the big names. At that we are playing for medal and that we hope to achieve," he said.
The ladies, who arrived Melbourne as African champions, are playing Malaysia in a very testy game. If they over come Malaysia today, they will be in a better shape to face Malta on Sunday. The Nigerian teams are generally tipped to finish within the medal zone.
"The event is all about medals are that we very well understand," Scott Nnaji of the female team said.
Back home, it is a classic start to the Vmobile basketball season tomorrow at the National Stadium. The Customs, which will be playing without Abdulrahman Mohammed who is away at Melbourne, will take on the Comets for size. The game, which will start at 4.00pm, will certainly bring back memories of the team's past encounter. Both teams have a way of cutting down each other at crucial times.
On paper, though, the Comets look the team to take the full points this weekend. A different form of result will be judged a surprise. And on Sunday it is a double clash at both the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences. In Lagos, the Islanders are hosts to Delta Force while the Union Bank team will tackle the Dodan Warriors.The Islanders/Delta clash becomes quite interesting following the results of the last Vmobile Challenge in Lagos. A rag-tag Delta Force upset Warriors and fans are hoping they can prove difficult to the former champions Islanders managed by Toyin Sonoiki.
The Savannah teams will wait until Sunday before they have their first taste action. And for a start, the dunks will be at the Kano gym hosts AHIP will play Plateau Peaks in one game while veterans Kano Pillars play Yelwa Hawks in the second match. Both games, like that in Lagos will be played in the same venue.
After a very long rest from the Commonwealth Basketball competition, the national teams are returning to action with the Melbourne 2006 Games, which got flagged off by Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday. Nigerians may know very little about India in terms of basketball but everyone has a first time opportunity to see India basketball today.
Before the male team boarded the long flight to Melbourne, they expressed their scanty knowledge about India basketball. On paper, the Nigerian team is expected to overcome their opponents even with the slightest margin but many analysts say it is best to wait until the buzzer before making any statement.
The real work for the guys will come on Sunday when they step out against hosts and basketball powerhouse, Australia. Like Nigeria, the hosts are not fielding their very best crop of players but still tradition counts in favour of the Oceanic nation.
Before the players departed Murtala Muhammed Airport for Melbourne the men's Coach Sani Ahmed told THISDAYSport that they were not underrating any opponent.
"We are neither going to look down on the so-called unknown teams nor get worried over the big names. At that we are playing for medal and that we hope to achieve," he said.
The ladies, who arrived Melbourne as African champions, are playing Malaysia in a very testy game. If they over come Malaysia today, they will be in a better shape to face Malta on Sunday. The Nigerian teams are generally tipped to finish within the medal zone.
"The event is all about medals are that we very well understand," Scott Nnaji of the female team said.
Back home, it is a classic start to the Vmobile basketball season tomorrow at the National Stadium. The Customs, which will be playing without Abdulrahman Mohammed who is away at Melbourne, will take on the Comets for size. The game, which will start at 4.00pm, will certainly bring back memories of the team's past encounter. Both teams have a way of cutting down each other at crucial times.
On paper, though, the Comets look the team to take the full points this weekend. A different form of result will be judged a surprise. And on Sunday it is a double clash at both the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences. In Lagos, the Islanders are hosts to Delta Force while the Union Bank team will tackle the Dodan Warriors.The Islanders/Delta clash becomes quite interesting following the results of the last Vmobile Challenge in Lagos. A rag-tag Delta Force upset Warriors and fans are hoping they can prove difficult to the former champions Islanders managed by Toyin Sonoiki.
The Savannah teams will wait until Sunday before they have their first taste action. And for a start, the dunks will be at the Kano gym hosts AHIP will play Plateau Peaks in one game while veterans Kano Pillars play Yelwa Hawks in the second match. Both games, like that in Lagos will be played in the same venue.
# posted by afrbk : 11:06
