The Minister of Youth and Sport, Dare Sunday has charged the Nigerian Senior women’s Basketball team, D’Tigress to go on and qualify for the next Olympic Games.
He gave the charge when the factional President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida led the victorious D’Tigress to present the trophy they just won at the 2019 Afrobasket championship in Senegal.
While praising the resilience of the team, the minister tasked them to go to secure a ticket to the next Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“I’m happy you have made Nigeria proud. You have exhibited the characters of the tiger. He’s a strong relentless animal that never gave up.
“Despite all intimidation, you were focus to win this cup. I want to tell you that President Muhammadu Buhari is very happy with you. He believes you will go to Senegal, Mozambique and France to make Nigeria proud in the Olympic qualifier,” he said.
While noting that basketball had come to stay in this country, the minister said D’Tigress were now ambassadors for other girls.
“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to give the D’Tigress the support it needs both financially and otherwise,” he added.
While presenting the trophy, Engr Kida said the courtesy call was the federation’s way of welcoming the Minister to office while celebrating the 2019 Afrobasket feat with him as the number one sports administrator in Nigeria.
“We are glad as a federation that we are the first to welcome the new minister to office with a trophy which we won in Senegal. This is not just another event for us as NBBF, it is a landmark achievement”, he said.
Kida said it was imperative for the NBBF board to visit the minister to intimate him about the happenings within the federation.
