President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida says stopping board members from imposing players on D’Tigress head coach, Rena Wakama played a key role in the team’s success at the 2024 Olympic Games.
D’Tigress made a big impression at the Olympics, making it to quarter-finals before bowing out to the United States of America.
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Wakama’s side defeated heavyweights Australia and Canada in the group stage.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Kida said the coach did her job without external influence.
“The responsibility is that we have tried to isolate other board members from influencing, board members can suggest, they can bring in names just like anybody else but the ultimate selection of the team is in the hands of the coach and the technical crew,” Kida said in an interview on NTA.
He described the coach as visionary, saying she has proven critics wrong with her achievement at the Olympics.
“We are extremely proud of her dedication, commitment, and patience in trying to get the right thing done. It has not been easy,” he added.
“Coach Rena Wakama, we know that you did sacrifice a lot. We know that you had to tolerate and understand the Nigerian context of things and brought energy to the team, gave the girls a lot of confidence and showed leadership.”
He asserted that Nigeria was drawn against the highest ranked team in Group B at the Olympics, appreciating the players for overcoming their fears to go beyond group-stage.
“It was the most difficult group and we are not expected to survive at all but again I always say my girls will always shock the world,” he said.
“It reminds me of 2018 when our girl went to the FIBA world cup in Geneva and we also got to the quarter final and unfortunately we were removed from the American team.”
By Dotun Omisakin
2 Comments
Tell The NFF, AFN, Boxing Fed and Wrestling Fed the Nicommpus must understand that players must not be forced on coaches after recommendation. We all saw the what our NOC did at the Olympics I’m still gutted people like Chioma Ajunwa weeped just like myself, yet we have a corrupted Odegbami used by the corrupt system to come and write lies to appease the mediocre ones who bought his deception. I have tried to get over Nigeria but my blood still brings back to Nigeria matters. I hope to be delivered from everything Nigeria soon so I can focus on my new nationality if things goes as expected.
what you wrote might be far from the truth. Odegbami was actually Chioma Ajunwa’s manager going to the Atlanta Olympics. Kindly check the link below and also what Chioma herself said. Always fact check your stories before you post them. Thanks
Chioma Ajunwa believes in helping others. She professes that she is a beneficiary of philanthropy. She attributed her successes in sports to the management team of former Nigerian football great, Chief Segun Odegbami. She insisted that without Odegbami’s help, she would achieve nothing and for this she hopes to help as many people as possible through her foundation.