July 05, (THEWILL) – The importance of private public partnership for the wholesome development of sports in the country was once again harped on by the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, while speaking at the final of the Dr & Mrs D. K Olukoya Women Basketball Championship.
The final of the privately-sponsored Basketball championship, sponsored by the General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya and his wife, was for a competition specifically restricted to budding female talents which allowed the young girls who participated the opportunity of showcasing their talents.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister noted the reckoning with Nigeria in the Basketball world: “Basketball is on ascendance in Nigeria and nothing confirms that more than the fact that the D’Tigress and D’Tigers will be at the Olympics.
“This is another great basketball game and the fact that these young ones have exhibited so much skills and abundance of talents gives me hope that the future of basketball in Nigeria is very bright especially when you start from the grass root.
“When you catch them young from 15, 16, 17, 18 you will realise that the future of both male and female basketball is very bright.”
Dare also showed that next month’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo were topmost in his mind: “In the forthcoming Olympics, D’Tigers and D’Tigress will be representing Nigeria as well as Africa and we look forward to an excellent performance.”
“Team Nigeria’s first batch to Tokyo leaves on July 5th, while the second batch departs on July 13th. The last batch joins them on July 19th.”
In concluding, the Honourable Minister spoke directly to Nigeria’s contingent heading to Japan. He confirmed that Team Nigeria was properly motivated to perform well in Tokyo, even as the athletes are well guided to adhere to the COVID-19 Protocol and to also exhibit high sense of responsibility and discipline while in Japan.
THEWILL recalls that Nigeria men’s team, D’Tigers are currently in Camp in California but will move to Las Vegas on Monday for the last phase of preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. However, only 15 players will be on the trip as Coach Mike Brown will be letting 33 players return to their schools and clubs.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
