By Goodluck Ikiebe
Ahead of their next encounter in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Nigerian Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has met the male national basketball team, D’Tigers, to encourage and thank them for doing Nigeria proud and starting a silent revolution in Nigeria’s basketball development.
Speaking during a virtual meeting with the team and its officials on Tuesday, the Minister assured the players of continued government, corporate and citizens’ support.
In his words, “Coach Mike Brown, I can’t thank you enough. I am glad, I watched the games, including the last one. This is a winning team. I know you will take care of business. I can only wish you the very best as you prepare for the next two games and I’m confident that you will do this country proud. You got the skills, the commitment and the experience. I just want to wish you well.”
Mr Dare revealed that the team’s performance had started a silent revolution in the development of basketball in Nigeria.
He noted, “I want to say that you have also ignited a revolution for basketball in Nigeria. You don’t know what you have started.
“As a Ministry, we are committed to Project 109. Project 109, which is yet to start, because we are going to need the Kida-led team and you particularly. We have 109 senatorial districts in Nigeria represented by one senator.
“Project 109 is aimed at building one basketball court in every senatorial district and manning each court with coaches so that we can discover young talents to play basketball from the grassroots and graduate them through the amateur to the professional league”, he stated.
“We believe if we start early enough, we can discover and nurture young basketballers. That is our own contribution to basketball development, but of course we know that the federation will do more. We will work with you,” Dare stressed.
