Newly-appointed chief coach of the national Under-16 womens’ team, Adeka Daudu, has expressed optimism that the team will not disappoint at the forthcoming FIBA Africa U-16 Women Championship.
The championship is billed to hold in Madagascar from Friday, July 10 to Saturday, July 19.
He said: “We are just coming back into the championship and I want to assure that we will not disappoint the country.
“We will put in our best to make the country proud. I’m optimistic of the players’ ability to put up a good fight.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) recalled Daudu to guide its re-entry into the continental age-group tournament from which it opted to stay away to address age-related issues in youth development programmes.
His experience with several national youth teams in the past is expected to assist him prepare this young team of newcomers to form the foundation for future teams leading to the senior level.
He is to be assisted by First Deepwater stand-in coach and ex-national captain, Shola Shomala, to make a roster from 20 young players who have been through pre-camp preparation.
The NBBF has charged Daudu to see the task at hand not as a “must win” challenge, but as the beginning of a rule-based development plan to benefit the country’s basketball future and ensure long term success when it comes.
