D ‘Tigers Tour China, Play GB In USA

In order to ensure that the Senior National Basketball team of Nigeria, D’ Tigers, perform well at the Olympics play-off tournament in Venezuela in July, President of Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF Tijani Umar said plans are in top gear for the team to go on training tour of China and play Great Britain in United States invitational tournament.

Speaking to P.M.Sports exclusively at the Package B Complex of the Abuja National Stadium, Umar said that the Federation will not relent in its efforts to ensure that Nigeria has a good representation at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela, adding that the D’Tigers will embark on a training tour of China by the end of May.

Umar also informed that the Ayo Bakare-coached team will play against top rated teams during their stay in the basketball-playing Asian country.

“We want D’Tigers to qualify for the Olympics; for this reason, we are preparing them for the play-off tournament in Venezuela where 12 best teams that did not qualify automatically for the Games will test their might for the 2012 Olypmics ticket and only three teams will qualify.

So, D’ Tigers will embark on a training tour in China where the team will play some friendly games against some top teams in the country.” Umar said.

He also informed that the D’ Tigers will leave China for United States where they will play the hosts of 2012 Olympics, Great Britain, and Russia, who are also seeking Olympic tickets in Venezuela, in friendly games.

“After playing some teams in China, the team will continue their training tour in United States where D’Tigers will slug it out with Great Britain in a friendly game. The team will also play Russia in a friendly game in United States. The Federation is looking forward to these games because Britain have qualified for the Olympics as hosts, and Russia are also contesting for the Olympics ticket at the play-off tournament in Venezuela,” Umar stated.

The D’ Tigers began their preparation for the Olympic Qualifying tournament on Thursday with camping of 14 local players at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

—Francis Achi/Abuja