Nigeria and FIBA Africa Zone-3 champion First Deepwater Basketball Club have set a big task ahead of their participation at the final round of the 2013 edition of the Africa Champions Cup for women, slated for Meknes, Morocco from 22 November through 1 December.
The Nigerian league four-peat champion are targeting a medal range finish in Meknes, this was reveal by chairman of the team, Babatunde Babalola and head coach, Lateef Erinfolami.
It was gathered that the team have since settled down to the business of sharpening their skills since winning the zonal elimination held in Liberia.
“And, in readiness for the task ahead, the players are learning one or two new skills from their coach, Erinfolami, who was one of the assistant coaches of the Nigeria senior women national team, that participated at the 2013 Afrobasket in Maputo Mozambique”, the officials said.
According to the maverick coach, Erinfolami, Nigeria’s outing at the biggest Africa basketball showpiece in Maputo has put him in good stead for new ideas about coaching, and has promised that his players; First Deepwater, would be a better team both in the domestic and continental championships.
“The only good thing for us at First Deepwater is to finish among the medal prospects in Meknes, Morocco, because we have paid our dues and it is time we take our rightful place in African club basketball.
“The players are set, while the management, led by our able chairman Babatunde Babalola is ready to take Morocco by storm, not minding which teams are on parade at the championship”, he said.
Continuing, the Erinfolami said: “Nigerians should expect us to return home with a medal, the colour I cannot predict at this stage, but I’m sure that First Deepwater would fight for a place on the podium”.
Meanwhile, the club chairman, Babalola also charged the team to go to Morocco and make a statement about Nigerian basketball.
The business man said it is high time that Nigerian clubs, led by First Deepwater stamp their authority in African women club championship.
He said if the club, First Deepwater can do it in the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF-organized Zenith Women League in the last four seasons, and be counted as a top contender in the FIBA Africa Zone-3 since in 200.
“It is time the club repeat their third place feat in 2011, if they cannot better that position. But my expectation from the team in Morocco is a medal zone finish”, Babalola said.
First Deepwater and Dolphins Basketball Clubs will represent Nigeria and FIBA Africa Zone-3 in the 10-team championship in Meknes, Morocco.
The other teams expected at the battle of Meknes include; Kenya and Zone-5 representatives, Eagles Wings and INSU basketball clubs; Interclube and Primeiro D’Agosto will carry Angola and Zone-6 flag, Arc-En-Ciel and INSS of Democratic Republic of Congo will represent Zone-4, Club Omnisports de Meknès, Morocco are the host club, while Ittihad Riadi de Tanger of Morocco will carry the burden of FIBA Africa Zone-1 at the championship.