Sports
D’Tigress Set To Begin Camping
The Nigerian national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, would soon begin camping in Atlanta, U.S as part of preparations for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, according to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
President of the federation, Musa Kida, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the 2018 NBBF Stakeholders Meeting held on Friday in Abuja.
According to Kida, preparations for the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup is very advanced.
“It is very advanced to the extent of the fact that we’ve been able to organise and secure where they are going to camp, which is going to be in Atlanta in the U.S.
“We already have an arena where they are going to be practising for the duration of the camping.
“We have also invited all available and eligible players all over the world, including in Nigeria.
“Very soon they will report to Atlanta where their coach, Sam Vincent, will be present to receive then and make his choice in terms of selection,” Kida said.
Tidesports source recalls that before the 2017 FIBA Afrobasket tournament, the NBBF was criticised for failing to secure the participation of some top foreign-based players.
When asked if such could occur again as the D’Tigress prepare for the FIBA Women’s World Cup coming up in September, Kida said the 2017 incidence was a learning curve.
“It is our wish as a federation and the wish of Nigerians that their best players identify with them and wear the national jersey to represent the country”, he disclosed.
“What happened to the men’s team when we couldn’t secure the participation of some top players was a question of availability.
“Many of the top players were engaged in their club activities and could not be released.
“However, we have learnt some hard lessons and we are now proactively engaging with players’ clubs and the outfits they work with professionally,” he disclosed.
Kida also enumerated the achievements of his NBBF board since he came to office to include the victory of D’Tigress at the 2017 FIBA Afrobasket tournament which the women’s national team won in Mali.
He said it was the victory that earned the team a place at the 2018 FIBA World Cup taking place in Spain.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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