‘Underdogs Tag’ll Spur D’Tigers’

President of Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Tijani Umar, is of the opinion that the country’s senior national team, D’Tigers will surprise the world at the 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament holding in Caracas, Venezuela, after pundits have written them off of making it out of their group.

Nigeria will face Europe’s big guns Lithuania and hosts,Venezuela, who are currently a place behind the country in the FIBA ranking, in the preliminary round of the Olympic tournament, which dunks off from 1-8 July, 2012.

Speaking recently with P.M Sports on the chances of the coach Ayo Bakare-led team at the tournament, the NBBF boss said: “ I know many journalists and some pundits in Lagos have written a lot about our team, saying we would not make it out of our group in Caracas. But I can tell the fans that we will surprise them with a great  performance when the tourney begins.

“We don’t really care about what you write or say about us, we would be spurred to do well with all the criticisms.”

While commenting on D’Tigers’ training tour of China-enroute Venezuela after they would have participated in a 4-Nation invitational tournament in Brazil, Umar said: “It does not matter why or where we are camping the team, what really matters is that we have started preparations and our boys are ready to do their best for the country.

“Our short term goal is to earn one of the three Olympic slots available at the FIBA 2012 Olympic qualifying tournament. On a medium term basis, we hope to win at least four games at the 2012 Olympic tournament, while also improving on the FIBA ranking of Nigeria by at least three positions by the end of this summer.”

The senior national team are already riding high in their build-up to the London 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, following two outstanding victories they recorded against the Chinese top club, Foshan Long Lions basketball club in their first few days in China.