18 June 2007
NIGERIA : FIBA U19: Three Foreign players Arrives
Also due to the Junior Tigers camp is assistant coach and Denver Nugget Director of Scouting Masai Ujuri in final preparation of the African champion for the world championship expected to dunk-off on July 12 in Novi Sad, Serbia.
The players according to the team head coach Adeka Dauda levels of fitness will be ascertained by the coaching crew which comprises of the head coach, Emmanuel Ogah and Emmanuel Okolo while the final list of the twelve players who will carry the burden of the country and that of other Africa nations in Serbia will be made public.
Coach Dauda told our correspondent that he is satisfied with the performance of the home-based players since the team commences preparation over a month ago.
The former Bauchi Nets basketball coach, praised organizers of the Lagos City league for providing a competitive avenue for the players to stay in competition mood.
Coach Dauda is confident that the players will not disappoint Nigerian and indeed the Africa continent at the world championship despite the poor attention given to the team by the sports governing body, the National Sports Commission, NSC.
Fifteen home-based players are currently in camp and will be joined by the three foreign-based to bring the list to eighteen from where the final twelve-man list will be announced Friday.
“Honestly, I am pleased with the form of the players especially those playing for one club or the other in the on-going Lagos City league, I must confess, the league has helped put the players in competition mood and I have no doubt the this team will do Nigeria and Africa proud in Serbia”
