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Basketball: 3×3 National Teams Jets Out Wednesday For 2019 AFCON

Published

6 years ago

November 5, 2019

…We are going for Gold-National Coordinator

Joel Ajayi

The delegations of 3×3 D’ Tiger, D ’Tigress National team and Under-18 team will on Wednesday jet out of Nigeria to Kampala, Uganda the venue of this year FIBA 3X3 Africa Cup AFCON slated for 8th -10th November 2019.

The tournament is expected to attract 12 teams in the Open Category of men and women and 12 teams of Under 18 players from all over Africa, making a total of 48 teams and 192 players.

Speaking at one of the team’s training inside MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, the national team coordinator of Nigeria 3X3 Basketball Frank Jutiboh said that the team will not leave any stone unturned to ensure Nigeria emerges a winner.

According to him, we have been in camp for over two months and we are ready to go, we are working very hard both in the morning and evening training session and we hope that it will be a very good outing.

“We are ready, I am very optimistic that we are going to do well; I can tell you that the entire player selected is outstanding both for male and female.”

As for National 3×3 team’s Head Coach Chris Acha, speaking ahead of the event, “we don’t just want to participate, we want to make a statement, we have been camp for 8weeks trying to put everything in place and as it’s now we are ready to go to represent Nigeria well.

“I scout for all these players and they are good enough to go.

“In the women category, we have Under-18 and Senior Team we have the best players in camp. We have selected the best shooters, best defenders.

“Last year’s male got silver, girls came fourth but this year it’s going to be a different story entirely because we have put everything in place.”

Also speaking the Male team’s Captain David Godwin said: “I think we are set and ready to deliver, we did not lacking anything, no injuries no challenges and we are highly motivated we are going for a gold medal.

“We not under pressure to deliver, we are playing as a team, we understood each other more, we are going to support each other on our strength and our weakness, we have been together for a while so, we are good to go.”

On her own, the Female team’s Captain Theresa Mac-Dangosu expressed: “We have been working hard for this competition and I believe we are going to do well. We have all it takes to make Nigerian proud, we have experienced coaches here and we have been to two months of rigorous training, we have improved in every area, so we are going out there to represent Nigeria very well.

“All we need is the support and prayer of every Nigerian for us to succeed.”

Nigeria will play in Group D Nigeria Mauritius, Uganda

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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