23rd April, 2012
Having recorded victory in their first match against Plateau Rocks at the on-going 2nd Phase of Zenith Bank-sponsored Nigeria Female Basketball league holding in Ilorin, Coach of First Bank Club of Lagos, Adewunmi Aderemi has vowed to beat high-flying defending champions of the league, First Deepwater club of Lagos.
The Coach Lateef Erinfolami-led Deepwater won the first phase of the league held in Kaduna last month as they defeated all their opponents, including First Bank, to top the 10-team league table.
Speaking on phone from Ilorin after they defeated Plateau Rocks by 101-47 points, Aderemi said that they are battle ready to emerge champions of the remaining two phases of the league, adding that their immediate target is to ensure that they beat Deepwater when they meet on Wednesday.
He said “We are going to clinch all the available points at stake here in Ilorin and by God’s grace at the third phase of the league in Lagos.”
According to Aderemi, the performance of the players dropped during the first phase because of the young players the club recently recruited to beef up the team, stressing that with the return of experienced point guard, Patience White to the team he is confident of winning all their matches.
“We only had five experienced players in the team in Kaduna, but I want to assure you that with the quality of players in camp, including PatienceWhite who just joined the team after her stay at the NYSC Orientation Camp, and our performance against Plateau Rocks today (Saturday), I am hopeful of beating all our opponents here in Ilorin.
“Although, I am still not happy with some weaknesses I noticed in our performance, I believe by the time we play our next match against FCT Queens on Monday (today), the shortcomings would have been corrected,’’ he said.
The second phase of Zenith Bank Women Basketball League is taking place at the basketball court of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. It is scheduled to hold from 19-29 April, 2012 with eight teams after Dolphins and Immigration club failed to confirm their participation.
The teams in Ilorin are: First Bank of Lagos, Plateau Rocks of Jos, Delta Force of Asaba, AHIP Queens, Nigeria Customs, FCT Angels of Abuja, First Deepwater of Lagos and Sunshine Angels from Akure.