Pillars Ready For DSTV League

Coach of Kano Pillars Basketball Club , Sanni Ahmed, in this interview explains how his team were allegedly robbed of the DSTV-sponsored Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, league title last year by the eventual winners, Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt. He also talks about D’Tigers’ chances at the London Olympics.

The 2011/2012 league season will dunk-off in few days, precisely next Saturday, how prepared are your team for the challenges ahead?

Well, I can tell you that if the season starts today we are ready for the first jump ball. We are set for the new season and my players are ready to go.

Will you say your team had enough time to prepare for the new season considering the fact that some of your players were with the national team for the Afrobasket and All Africa Games?

Just like every other team in the league, we wished for more time to prepare ourselves for the season but we have no choice. We expected the NBBF to give us at least three weeks to put everything in place ahead of the new season.

After failing to lift the trophy last season, what is your target for the new season?

We did not fail to win the title last season but we were robbed by Royal Hoopers. You can see how poorly they performed when they featured at the Club Championship in Morocco. But I can assure you that we will reclaim the title from them this time around. I know it’s not going to be easy because so many clubs have recruited new players, especially DodanWarriors. In spite of this, I believe in the strength of my team and we are poised for the trophy.

What should we expect from this present team?

I think we have learnt from last season’s mistakes and besides that, the team as a whole have matured in many aspects of the game. We have also recruited some good players in places we felt we were weak during the last campaign.

Do you think Royal Hoopers can retain their title this season?

I will not rule the defending champions out of the title but I must say it is not going to be easy for them. Like I said earlier; a lot of teams have beefed up their teams for the new season.

Which of the teams do you think will pose the stiffest challenge to your title race?

Every team is going to be a challenge for us. Basketball is not a sport where one plus one will give you two. If you are not at your best through out the season you will pay for it. We will take each game as it comes.

As the coach of the national men’s team, D’Tigers, do you think Nigeria can qualify for the Olympic Games in London?

With good preparation and selection of players I think we can make it to the next stage in our group that includes Lithuania and hosts, Venezuela.