Ugoka moves to Poland, targets Afrobasket trophy with D’Tigeress

Poland-bound Nigeria basketball star, Uju Ugoka, has advised the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and stakeholders in the sport to put behind them the failure of D’Tigeress to qualify for the basketball event at the Rio Olympic Games.
She wants them to focus on the team winning the next Afrobasket Championship.
D’Tigeress lost out on points at Women Olympics Qualifiers Tournament in Nantes, France.
Ugoka, who has just signed for AZS UMC, Lublin, Poland said all hands should be on deck to ensure the team plays well and wins the next Afrobasket Championship.
She expressed her sadness to TheNiche in Lagos before travelling out of the country on Thursday, June 30.
“Really I was not happy that we could not qualify. We tried our best, but unfortunately, our best was not enough to see us through.
“We were, however, not disgraced as we crashed out with our heads high after beating Korea which shows that we are improving. We lost by points, which was not too bad.”
Ugoka said the team played well despite being the lowest ranked country at the qualifiers, but got punished because of a lack of experience as none of the players had ever played at such competitive level before.
She expressed optimism that if the main nucleus of the team can be maintained by the NBBF coupled with good friendlies and the employment of tactically sound coaches, the team has what it takes to dominate Africa the Women Afrobasket Championship.
“We will keep working for the future and the younger generation but with our focus on winning the next Afrobasket Championship. That should be our target for now.”
Ugoka, who is leaving the Italian League for Poland, shed more light on the objectives of her foundation, Turning Hope Into Reality (THIR).
She said THIR leverages the power of sport to educate, inspire hope, and mobilise the youth, especially girls, to live healthier, more productive lives, and be agents for change in their communities.
“Young people have a vast potential to create meaningful change and play a significant role in overcoming their greatest health challenges.
“Sport is an ideal way to reach, educate, and inspire young people in a language they understand and enjoy.
“Accountability, work ethic, character, leadership, and also being a team player are great skills and qualities they will learn to be accountable in their societies.
“I tend to give back to the country what I had gained as a national team player and give the young ones the opportunity that I had to go to the United States of America through scholarship with sport.
“Our goal is focused on training and improving the skills of young athletes, turning their hope into reality through sport.
“We help players get scholarships by promoting them to colleges with our vast connections. We train and teach players on how to be successful on and off the courts.
“We instil the qualities that are required to excel not only on the basketball courts, but in the game of life.”
Ugoka urged corporate bodies and philanthropists to support her foundation to achieve the goals.
“So far, so good. The foundation is growing but we are trying to get sponsors for us to achieve out set goals. We’ve been talking to some individuals and sports loving corporate bodies because we know the government cannot do all.
“In 2009, I was among 50 girls camped in Abeokuta, Ogun State under the ‘Hope for Girls’ initiative. At the end of the camping, only two of us were selected to travel to the U.S. and play basketball.
“Because of what I benefited from that scholarship to date, I resolved about five years ago that I would do such for the young ones to help them achieve their aims in life.
“And we can only achieve this if we encourage our young boys and girls to participate in sports because sports is an integral part of culture around the world. It brings togetherness, happiness, and love.”