16 August 2012

Nigeria: Ugboaja Backs Nbbf On Foreign Coach


  • A member of the D'Tigers team to the just concluded London 2012 Olympic Games, Ejike Ugboaja yesterday said he was in support of plans by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to hire in a foreign coach to tinker the senior national basketball team.
    Recent media reports indicate that NBBF is considering hiring a foreign coach for the men's team, as current handler Ayo Bakare has indicated interest to step down as head coach of the team after the 2012 Olympics in London.
    A top official of the federation disclosed that the body will discuss the matter when it reviews the performance of D'Tigers in the men's basketball tournament at the Olympics, saying "we need someone that will guide the team and other coaches after Mr Bakare decided to stand down".
    In an interview with Trustsports in Abuja yesterday, Ugboaja, who plies his trade in the NBA, stated that one of the reasons why Nigeria crashed out of the basketball event of the London Games in the first round was lack of technical depth from the coaching staff.
    "Yes, I think the outing was bigger for one man to handle. For example, the US had seven coaches, but in our own case, we had only one person; so it was too big for him, and when they were blowing us out, he didn't know what to do to counter them", he said.
    The Nigerian power forward, however said he expects better outing in Rio de Jenairo 2016 Olympic Games, as the players, coaches and administrators have learnt their lessons at the London Games.
    "We are going to do better in Rio de Jenairo 2016 because NBBF has had its experience now and they are already working towards that. They have known what to do, and they should start doing it so that we will move on from there", he concluded.

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