Basketball in Africa

The final of the 2006 Nigeria national women club championship that is set to dunk-off on Sunday in Lagos looks interesting with the level of seriousness puts into preparation by clubs yearning for honours.
Championship top three teams, First Bank Elepant Girls, Dolphins and First Bank Blue Angels are not leaving any stone on turned in their bid to do well in the final-8 of the championship as the three teams just returned from a week-long training tour to strategise for the finals.

First Bank teams coached by the duo of Adewumi Aderemi and former D'Tigress captain, Sola Ogunade went on tour of Akure, SouthWest Nigeria where its two teams Elephant Girls and Blue Angels were for close to three weeks.

According to the teams' head coach, the choice of moving camp out of the clubs' traditional base, Lagos was to afford the players the opportunity to concentrate fully for the task ahead.

The former assistant coach of the Nigeria senior female national team pointed out that the players and its handlers need the tour so that everybody would know that the task ahead is as big as the parent company, First Bank Nigeria Plc.

He, however, assured the bank management and the teams' teeming supports of a good outing in this year's finals.

"We are known to be the best in this country and that we can't compromise, don't forget also that our going to Akure is not just for the Nigeria finals but to also access our players readiness for the 12th African Club Championship coming up in Libreveille, Gabon later in October, as we are set to reclaim our tilte which was lost last year in Mali", the coach opined.

Dolphins on the other hand takes its training tour to neighbouring Cotonou, Republic of Benin where the team trained twice daily on the watchful eyes of club owner, Wale Aboderin and coach Sylvester James.

The Ochuko Okworogun captain side played some friendly matches against some top clubs in the small West Africa country.

According to the team boss, the club is prepared to surrender its second spot if it cannot over take the Elephant Girls as the number one club in Nigeria.

Other clubs that will give Elephant Girls, Dolphins and Blue Angels a run for their money and talents in the finals includes, Delta Force basketball club of Asaba; Sunshine Angels of Akure; Customs basketball club of Lagos; Immigration and AHIP basketball clubs of Kano

Dolphins, who placed second behind Elephant Girls last years is also setting its eyes on the Africa title in Gabon.