NAN-S-19
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) Charles Ibeziakor, the Head Coach and owner, Raptors Academy of Lagos, on Wednesday said that he was confident of his team’s qualification from Division One to the elite Dstv Premier League Men’s Basketball.
The competition, which is set to dunk off in Abuja on Thursday Nov. 17 will have no fewer than 16 clubs from the Savannah Conference and Atlantic Conference competing for honours.
According to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), the best two teams, each from the Savannah and Atlantic are to progress to the DStv League.
However, with three Lagos based clubs banned last season from taking part in basketball, it is expected that three replacements will be promoted from the Atlantic division to join the elite teams.
Ibeziakor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his team was prepared and will qualify for the elite division next season.
“We understand the challenge and we know our capacity to beat all other contenders to the title to earn a qualification.
“We understand other teams are coming with their best players and also aspiring to reach the elite division in the 2017 calendar.
“We have worked tirelessly in our preparations and since we got back from the Division Two competition played in Kano where we came third in the past but we are looking forward to the event,” Ibeziakor said.(NAN)
BAO/DS/YAZ