D’Tigress ready for FIBA World Cup as FG sends team forth

Nigeria women’s basketball team, D’Tigress are ready for the 2018 FIBA World Cup, as the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung hosted the team on Thursday.

The 18th edition of FIBA’s premier international tournament for women will take place between September 22 to 30 in Tenerife, Spain.

The Minister, in his office in Abuja during a brief sent forth party organised for the team, spoke on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari.

“It is the belief of this government that for every competition, you should compete clean and fair. The country is standing solidly behind you. We are looking out for you with hope that with hard work, you can bring the trophy home,” the Minister said.

“We are deliberately looking toward the development of female sports and we believe that once we are able to equitably tackle the imbalance between the men’s football, women’s football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball, our women will do us proud because they have less of the controversies compared to the men.”

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The Minister thanked the players for their dedication and willingness to heed the clarion call to represent Nigeria in Spain.

“I want to thank you sincerely for honouring the invitation to come to camp, for considering service to your country as a priority. You are a team that is very compact, driven by common interest and also determined.

“I believe that the sky will be the limit of this team”, he continued.

In her response, the team’s captain, Adaora Elonu promised that D’Tigress will do their best to give a good representation of the country who will be playing at the competition as African Champions.

Elonu thanked the NBBF President, Engineer Musa Kida for ensuring the team’s early call to camp and early preparations to stand a chance of competing seriously at the world cup.

Kida, who was represented by the Vice President, Babatunde Ogunade went on to thank the Minister for his support since their assumption of office last year.

“We cannot thank you enough for your level of support to the board. You have shown yourself to be a good and dependable father. Like Oliver Twist, we still ask for more.” he said.

 

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