12th March, 2012
Nigeria’s D’Tigers have received a boost from American sportswear company, Nike Incorporation, ahead of their outing at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, OQT, which will hold in Caracas, Venezuela.
The senior national team are set to begin preparation for the 12-team tourney, which will hold in July.
President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Tijani Umar, disclosed that Nike has renewned its contract with the federation.
Umar said the renewed contract will run till the end of 2013 World Championship, which will see Nike providing D’Tigers and other national teams with jersies, footwears and other sports equipment.
Under the terms of the agreement signed by the president in Atlanta, USA, during the NBA All Star Game, a couple of weeks ago, the sportswear giant will run basketball camps for Nigerian kids and coaching clinics for the local coaches.
Speaking on the implementation of the Nike deal, Umar said Abuja, Ibadan and Uyo have been tentatively chosen as venues for the coaching clinics and training camps that will hold later in the year.
Meanwhile, the D’Tigers are expected to start their camping for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Orlando, USA, in May, this year.
NBBF’s board member and co-ordinator of the Savannah and Atlantic conferences of the DSTV Premier League, Babs Ogunade, informed that over 30 players are expected at the camp, adding that the accreditation documents of the players have been sent to their various clubs to avoid visa hitches.
He also stated that top flight friendly matches have been arranged for D’Tigers while in camp in America. He further disclosed that an invitational tournament in China is being arranged by the NBBF for the team’s preparation.