NBA title-winning manager, Masai Ujiri has tipped Nigeria’s senior
national basketball team, D’Tigers, to come good at the FIBA Men’s
Basketball World Cup billed to hold in China from August 31 to September
15.
Ujiri, who says Nigeria has become one of the best basketball playing
nations of the world, also commended the board of the Nigeria
Basketball Federation (NBBF) for putting up programmes that have seen
the national teams rising above the African continent to enviable
positions among the best teams in the world.
Ujiri, who is in Lagos on a trophy tour after leading his team, the
Toronto Raptors’ to their first ever NBA title in their franchise
history, said, “I think the national team has done very well so far
because Nigeria has the right talent. The only thing that has always
come to question is our organisation and preparation for major
tournaments.
“I have been in touch with the NBBF President, Musa Kida, Col. Sam
Ahmedu (Rtd) and Coach Alex Nwora. In fact, Col Sam and Nwora visited me
in Toronto while scouting for players. I must say they are doing things
the right way, which is the process of preparation for the national
team.
“I am very encouraged with what they are doing also with the women’s
team where Mactabene Amachree is helping to put things together. The
girls have a good chance of being champions again and the men’s team has
shown character through the World Cup African qualifiers. They have the
potential to make a difference at the World Cup.
“Sadly, I was not in Canada when they played their tune up games. I
see them taking the advantage of the withdrawals of some key players
from the American team to make a huge statement for the country and
Africa.” He pointed out that there were several opportunities that
could be tapped into if the private sector were properly galvanized to
promote the game of basketball in Nigeria, noting that this is the only
way the youths could be reached and given a chance to excel.
Ujiri was a member of the Nigerian team to Senegal ’97 that qualified
for the World Cup in Greece. The Raptors Nigerian president is credited
for much of the success of the Canada based team.
As President of Basketball Operations, Ujiri engineered the
blockbuster trade, which brought San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard, a
three-time NBA All-Star, NBA champion and finals MVP, to Toronto last
year. The move has paid off remarkably with Leonard leading the team to
their first ever NBA Championship title.As part of his visit home, Ujiri
also took the NBA trophy to his parents in Zaria and to the Ahmadu
Bello University, where he presented it to his first coach, Oliver
Babatunde Johnson, who nurtured him in his formative years.
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