AHEAD 2021/2022 SEASONS Kida: Our Doors Are Open for All Eligible Basketball Players

AHEAD 2021/2022 SEASONS  Kida: Our Doors Are Open for All Eligible Basketball Players

The Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has made it clear that the country is determined to cap any eligible player willing to play for Nigeria.

NBBF’s reaction is coming as speculations are making the round that Brooklyn Nets guard, Spencer Dinwiddie, who didn’t make USA team is interested in playing for D’Tigers at next year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

The federation who senior male and female teams are Tokyo bound for the summer Games next year, made it clear that eligible players around the world capable of improving the team will be given a chance.

NBBF’s President, Musa Kida is quite happy with the renewed interest of Nigerian players within the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) players interest in committing their international future to Nigeria.

“This is a good time to be alive as a Nigerian basketball fan. The new found fame in the world has started yielding the desired results. Gone were the days when even kids playing at the collegiate system avoided our teams like a plague.

“We have lost many good players in the past, but now things are looking up. Top-rated players have started reaching out to the federation. We will consider each player including the likes of Dinwidde on case by case basis in accordance with FIBA rules as provided for under Chapter 3, article 21(a).

The FIBA rule states that national teams participating in a Competition of FIBA may have only one player on its team who has acquired the legal nationality of that country by naturalisation or by any other means after having reached the age of 16.

“New Orleans Pelicans centre, Jahlil Okafor is also reportedly interested in fighting for a shirt. There are many top players out there who are eligible to play for us while some may also be thinking of naturalization as allowed by FIBA rules”, Kida continued.

The NBBF President stressed that the technical crew is looking at players who will add something extra to the teams ahead of the Summer Olympics.

“While at the World Cup in China, the coaches and many Nigerians noticed that we needed more tested hands to improve the team. We are therefore working closely with the technical crew to identify players capable of bringing something new to the table.”

He concluded that a podium finish at the now postponed Summer Games is not impossible, but to achieve such feat, the best materials must be made use of.

Related Articles