Nigeria's chances of making it to the 2012 Olympic Games are bigger than a lot of people think.
At least that's according to national team coach Ayodele Bakare, whose optimism is based on the country's vast pool of experienced talent to draw from, and an improved Nigerian Basketball Federation administration [read more]
Nigeria's chances of making it to the 2012 Olympic Games are bigger than a lot of people think.
At least that's according to national team coach Ayodele Bakare, whose optimism is based on the country's vast pool of experienced talent to draw from, and an improved Nigerian Basketball Federation administration.
Nigeria, despite a chaotic start to their preparations last summer, won the bronze medal at Afrobasket 2011 in Madagascar to book a place in the 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which is to be staged in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in the first week of July.
Three places for the London Games will be at stake. Nigeria will take part in the event for the first time.
Which teams are in the best position to make it to London?
'Nigeria, for sure,' Bakare said to FIBA.com.
'Then, Lithuania and Greece.'
Angola, Jordan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, F.Y.R. of Macedonia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and hosts Venezuela are the other teams in the mix.
Bakare, who has coached Nigerian national teams at all levels, including youth and women, took over last year after the resignation of Nigeria coach John Lucas, a great player in the NBA who also coached in the league.
Bakare says Nigeria were in Orlando, Florida, preparing for the Afrobasket when everything fell apart.
'We were having a training camp when suddenly we had no coach, no players,' Bakare said.
'The original team was completely broken.
'We had to call some players who were already on holidays.
'The way my players made a commitment, I just have to give them credit.'
The team, under Bakare and led by Ime Udoka, travelled to Madagascar and finished third after a 77-67 victory over Ivory Coast.
Bakare says that Nigeria's prospects have improved since Afrobasket 2011, when the national team 'had many administrative problems' to overcome.
Looking for reinforcements
Bakare believes the Nigerians have the potential for a much stronger squad than the one that showed up last year in Antananarivo.
'We keep monitoring regularly potential players for our national team,' he said.
'We have a number of players based in Europe and the USA.
'Some of them were born outside Nigeria, but all of them hold Nigerian passports.
'This increases our chances to select a strong team.'
Familiar foes
In Caracas, Nigeria could cross swords with three teams they have met before: Angola, Korea and Venezuela.
In 1998, they celebrated their first-ever win in a FIBA World Championship game by hammering Korea, 89-65.
Nigeria lost 84-77 to Venezuela at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
Angola and Nigeria have faced each other at the Afrobasket over the years.
Bakare expects the strongest opponents to come from the old continent.
'The European teams are always tough to beat,' he said.
Nigeria can draw on impressive results from years gone by to serve as inspiration.
Six years ago in Japan was one of the most famous, when Nigeria prevailed 82-75 victory over Serbia and Montenegro to make worldwide headlines.
'We will surprise some people,' Bakare said.
'We are doing everything to get all players together, and the federation is committed to giving into the players' demands.'
Might the obsession with foreign-based players affect home-based players' motivation?
'Clearly our national championship has no players of the quality of those in the main leagues around the world, but it does not mean we disregard them,' Bakare said.
'Our policy is to keep at least two home-based players in the national team.
'If you recall, when the US Dream Team appeared at the 1992 Olympics, they used one college player (Christian Laettner) among the NBA professionals.
'This policy applies to Nigerian players who have left the country in the last 12 months, and everybody is happy with it.
'Home-based players react positively to this policy as we seek to name the best players for the national team, as everybody wishes us to do well.'
Nigeria are second to Angola in the FIBA Africa Rankings, and 21st in the FIBA World Rankings, yet they have never played in an Olympic tournament.
Nigeria DStv League dunks-off February 25 - Feb 3, 2012 (by Olusegun Ikuesan)
..... As NBBF-Stakeholders, League Board meet
The 2011/2012 Dstv Premier Basketball League dunks-off February 25 across the country.
In a statement issued by the Secretariat Thursday the new date of February 25 was arrived at after the Nigeria Basketball ruling body, NBBF took into consideration appeals from the sixteen clubs from the Atlantic and Savannah conference of the league [read more]
..... As NBBF-Stakeholders, League Board meet
The 2011/2012 Dstv Premier Basketball League dunks-off February 25 across the country.
In a statement issued by the Secretariat Thursday the new date of February 25 was arrived at after the Nigeria Basketball ruling body, NBBF took into consideration appeals from the sixteen clubs from the Atlantic and Savannah conference of the league.
NBBF president Tijjani Umar says the federation is a proactive one that is prepared to carry every stakeholder along in its administration of the game in Nigeria.
Officials of the NBBF will on February 16, 2012 hold a stakeholder conference with teams in the Atlantic conference in Lagos while that of the Savannah conference have been schedule for February 18 in Abuja with the federation first executive meeting for the 2012 holding same day as the Savannah conference stakeholder conference in Abuja.
The sixteen clubs that will be campaigning in the league this season include league defending champion, Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt and seven Lagos-based clubs Union Bank basketball club, Dodan Warriors basketball club, Comets basketball club, Islanders basketball club, Police Baton basketball club, Chariot basketball club and newly promoted Nigeria Customs basketball club in the Atlantic conference.
Leading the challenge in the Savannah conference are 2010/2011 fourth placed side Kada Stars basketball club of Kaduna, three-time champion Kano Pillars basketball club and Nigeria Immigration basketball club of Kano. Bauchi Nets basketball club and Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi, Tapgun Rockets basketball club of Jos, Niger Potters basketball club of Minna and newly promoted Civil Defence basketball club of Abuja. Orseer Ikyaator (191-G-89)
FIBA 2012 Olympic Qualifiers - D'Tigers Draws Host Venezuela, Lithuania - Feb 2, 2012 (by Eurobasket News )
Nigeria's D'Tigers were yesterday drawn in Group B of the FIBA qualifying tournament for the London 2012 Olympic Games' basketball event slated for Caracas, Venezuela from July 2 to July 8 this year.
Group has Greece, Jordan and Puerto Rico. In group C are Dominican Republic and Korea, Russia while group D parades Angola, FYR of Macedonia and New Zealand [read more]
Nigeria's D'Tigers were yesterday drawn in Group B of the FIBA qualifying tournament for the London 2012 Olympic Games' basketball event slated for Caracas, Venezuela from July 2 to July 8 this year.
Group has Greece, Jordan and Puerto Rico. In group C are Dominican Republic and Korea, Russia while group D parades Angola, FYR of Macedonia and New Zealand.
According to the draws held in Caracas yesterday, Nigeria will play her first match against host nation Venezuela on July 2, while her last group match is against Lithuania two days later.
The fixtures for the tournament, according to FIBA Secretary General, Patrick Baumann, the two best placed teams from each group will qualify for the quarter final which holds on July 6, while the teams placed third in each group are eliminated.
The fixtures also show that the semi finals hold on July 7 while the final comes up July 8.
The two finalists and the third place winner will qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games basketball event. Courtesy of: Daily Trust
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