By Morakinyo Abodunrin
The founder of Africa For Africa (AFA) sports apparels , Ugo Udezue, is confident that both Nigeria’s men (D’Tigers) and women (D’Tigress )national basketball teams are strong enough to finish on the podium at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games.
Speaking in Lagos yesterday, Udezue said the impressive makeup of both D’Tigers and D’Tigress is an indication of the quality at the disposal of the teams’ handlers hence it offers the country her best hope of winning medals in the basketball events of Tokyo 2020.
“ Of course, I have always predicted right and this is the very first time we are having a world class coaches for the teams- Mike Brown (D’Tigers ) and Otis Hughley Jr. (D’Tigress )-and if you look at the teams , the oldest person in the team is 30-years-old in the case of the D’Tigress and they are fresh, young and athletic,” Udeze explained.“ Of course, I’ll be absolutely surprised if we don’t get to win medals in basketball at the Olympics.
“ Both teams are capable of getting medals and I’m sure about this.”
Udezue said he was not oblivious of the challenges ahead of the teams in Tokyo given the calibre of the teams that would be on parade in both the men’s and women’s basketball event but he insisted that both the D’Tigers and D’Tigress can weather the storm.
Meanwhile, the 42-year-old Udezue said he wouldn’t have been prouder with AFA Sports being the
official apparel provider for the Nigerian delegation to the Olympics.
“ Where we (AFA Sports) are today is a testament of the kind of hardwork we’d put in this project in the last three and half years but I’m duty-bound to contribute as much as I can to the development of sports not only in Nigeria but throughout Africa,” he said. “This is the first time an African country is going to the Olympics without the known major brands, and we are happy that AFA Sports is already making inroads across the continent.”
