NAN-S-23
Coach
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Jan. 25, 2018 (NAN) Kwara Falcons Basketball Club of Ilorin have appointed Lateef Erinfolami as their new coach, Dr. Joseph Adeyemo, the club’s Chairman, said in a statement on Thursday in Ilorin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former coach of Lagos-based Islanders and First Deepwater, replaced Aderemi Adewunmi, whose contract expired at the end of last year.
NAN reports that Erinfolami has signed a one-year contract, with an option of extending it.
Umar Bala, formerly of ASPAC basketball club of Cotonou, and Adewunmi were considered for the job, but the Ilorin club’s officials settled for the former Dolphins coach.
Erinfolami, who has previously managed Nuwaidrat Basketball Club in Bahrain, was also part of the Nigerian basketball team’s coaching crew to the All-African Games of 2016 in Congo.
NAN gathered that he emerged as the preferred candidate and the club acted swiftly to appoint him.
Adeyemo said Erinfolami greatly impressed him with his knowledge of the objectives of the club and had a clear plan of how he would improve the team.
“He’s a man who has the experience as far as basketball is concerned and we believe his knowledge of the game will be beneficial to our club and association in the state” Adeyemo said.
The secretary of the club, Azeez Bello, said the club was determined to appoint someone with League experience or an extensive knowledge of Nigerian basketball.
“We were looking for someone who will have a huge contribution to our developmental programme at the grassroots.
“We chose him because we want to have an identity where we will have home-grown talents in our team.
“Erinfolami has been successful in management of clubs with a strong and stable background, and this is the kind of foundation we are able to give to our managers.
“We look forward to working with Erinfolami and supporting him to help achieve our goal,” Bello said.
Erinfolami, a point guard for Nigeria in the 80s, will be assisted by ex-Falcons and Customs captain, Baba Jubril.(NAN)
OOH/ESAN/OLAL
================
(Edited by Abiodun Esan and Olawale Alabi)