Charity Shield tourney gallops off tomorrow

The outgoing President of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Tijjani Umar has said the country is in a position to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Umar told Fever Pitch during a telephone interview after the draws that D’Tigers’ experience and quality put them in good stead to make the cut at the end of the qualifiers.

The reigning African Champions are grouped alongside Mali, Uganda and Rwanda in Group B in the draws at the Caton Tower In Guangzhou China.

While noting that Nigeria will not underrate any of the teams, he said the board will make sure that the team is properly prepared for the qualifiers.

“We will play Rwanda, Uganda and Mali but you never know what these guys have in their bags but we will ensure that we don’t disappoint Nigerians”, he said.

On his part, President of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd) said Nigeria’s chances are bright, stressing that “we are the highest ranked among the teams in the group.”

“Rwanda is an oncoming force while Mali is a powerful force in basketball but we have the well with all to scale through,” he insisted.

Ahmedu however warned that preparation should commence early in order to put the team in grate shape ahead of the qualifiers.

The qualifiers will commence in November and the four group members would play home and away games across six qualifying windows spanning .

The 2017 edition of the Access Bank-UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament scheduled to hold at Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Resort is set to gallop off tomorrow.

It is the biggest charity polo event in Africa and will feature 15 teams vying for honours in two major categories, organizers of the event said in a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday.

UNICEF Charity Shield tourney, which is in its tenth year of Access Bank sponsorship, is a reaffirmation of the importance of the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable children in northern Nigeria.

Speaking to Fever Pitch yesterday, veteran polo player Ali Hadejia expects this year’s events to be of the highest quality.

“It is one of the biggest on the continent and each year it seems to get better”, he said.