D’Tigers

The American basketball team may have run over Nigerian D’Tigers and Argentina over-powered them, but the team still have a pride to walk with their noses in front.

The Nigerian team which beat African champions, Tunisia in the opening basketball event of the Olympics are reckoned to be the first African team to have won a game at the Olympics.

“It’s painful that things did not go well with us after our first game but we still have something to savour. We are the first African team to have won a game at the Olympics. That is something good in our first attempt at the Olympics. Other African countries that came to the Olympics before us never won a game,” Olumide Oyedeji explained.

He attributed their spate of defeats to the injuries in their camp.

“We’re struggling with injuries. Some of our fine players are down with injuries. When your points guard is down, it’s like when your engine is bad. It can never work and if it does, it can never be the same.”

Looking back at the American game, Olumide hissed and said: “They (USA) did everything perfect hitting countless three pointers.

“We need to move ahead because the future is bright for the game in Nigeria. All we need do is to give it only 2 per cent of what is giving to football. Rome was not built in a day. We have young players who can propel the team to greater heights.

“But I must commend the NSC and the NOC for a job well done in getting us this far. We can build on this if we pay little attention to Basketball,” the big man said.