Kebbi State’s coach to this year’s Noah Dallaji U-17 Basketball Championship in Kano, Suleiman Yauri is still relishing his side’s shock victory over Bauchi State, as they cruised into the semi-finals with 66 to 63 points in the sports hall of Sani Abacha Stadium.
Yauri admitted that his team did not do well in their first two matches, which they lost back-to-back, such that their victory over the lads from Bauchi State was a big shock to many onlookers in The City of Groundnut Pyramids.
The coach acknowledged his side’s poor start at the competition and commended his players for not giving up nor get discouraged, as they romped back into reckoning by pulling off the surprise victory against the highly-rated Bauchi side.
Megasportsarena.com reports that Yauri went on to beam with satisfaction over the manner in which his boys rose to the occasion when it mattered most, as they played better in defence and looked determined on the offense throughout the game.
Yauri conceded: “Losing two games in the group stages was heartbreaking but we pulled a surprise against Bauchi state and we are cruising to the finals. I told the boys not to give up and they made me proud
“Our defense and offensive defense were very good; our driving to the rims without freestyle and making the points easily gave us an edge over the Bauchi boys.
“We also developed the ability to play without falls throughout the game; this gave us the final victory.”
