Sports minister, Sunday Dare is leading the battle cry for Nigeria’s men’s basketball national team, ‘Tigers, ahead of their second match at the ongoing Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where he says they should turn the heat on against Germany.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, heading into D’Tigers’ second group match in The Land of The Rising Sun, Dare stressed that the Nigerian team can take their opponents to the cleaners, because they have the required skills and commitment to excel.
He declared as much during a virtual meeting with the team on Tuesday, during which he heaped praise on Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) president, Engineer Ahmed Musa-Kida and his board members while also assuring the players of continued support from the federal government, the corporate sector and all sports fans.
He thanked D’Tigers’ coach, Mike Brown for marshalling the squad so far and wished them good fortunes in their next two matches, against Germany on Wednesday and then Italy on Saturday, ahead of which he stressed that the players must turn the heat on their foes.
Dare retorted: “I am glad I watched the games, every other single game I’ve watched, I watched 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.
“I’m sure that you will do this country proud. You guys bring it on. You got the skills, you got the commitment, you got the experience and I just want to wish you well. 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, as a Minister, 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.”
