NAN-S-7
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos, March 28, 2017 (NAN) Dolphins Basketball Club of Lagos, the 2015 Women’s Zenith Basketball Women’s League champions on Tuesday said they had recruited new players to execute a successful 2017 campaign.
The Head Coach, Ochuko Okworogun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that new players such as Sharon Ogbaranduku, Ololade Azeez, Sefunke Adedeji and Kenya’s Linet Obayo had been recruited.
Also, the pronouncement by the club to an online portal page, Titans Basketball, confirmed others like Queen Ulabo (formerly of First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos), Chidinma Okeke and Basirat Animashaun.
Others are Bridget Dibiya, Dominica Okonkwo, Hope Olise and Ejiro Uwegba (Rookies Basketball Club of Lagos).
Dolphins, over the years have continued to enjoy tremendous successes through hard work and are renowned for their youth and energetic team.
They have always been the opposition team to look out for.
The club have also provided the platform for upcoming young players to prove their worth and at the same time trained the best players the league can boast of.
This new recruits will join the likes of Tokunbo Olaosebikan (Team captain), Bintu Bhadmus, Joy Osayanmon, Ifunaya Ijeh and Iyabo Rahee for the 2017 Zenith Bank Women’s League.
With the exodus of eight quality players that over the years formed the nucleus of the team’s success story, how the team would compete favourably in the 2017 campaign becomes the big question.
The Head Coach said: “The exodus of the old players will not affect team’s play and fans should have faith.
“Yes we have lost players that gave us the fame we have today, but we had to let them go because majority of them have gone overseas for greener pastures.
“It is the height we expect of them and having trained them to the best they can ever be it is pertinent we let them go for higher duty calls.
“We will miss them, the likes of Patience Okpe, Juliet Currency, Nadege Kodgo, Aderinsola Idowu, Kaosarat Onikoyi, Joy Aku, Nosifat Jimoh and Rosemary Odebunmi will always be remembered for their efforts.
“However, it is time to move on and to continue to believe in our philosophy of training the youngest unknown players and drilling them to be world beaters’’.
Also, the team’s ever efficient team captain, Tokunbo Olaosebikan, expressed confidence in the new team to deliver the goods at the end of the 2017 campaign.
“We have a very young and energetic team that brings new hope and renewed strength to the few players behind.
“It is tough when the best hands have to go for greener pastures but the system is like that, the club would not want to be a stumbling block to the joy of any player.
“But we will cope and work tirelessly to prove to the world and our entire fans that we are Dolphins Club and we don’t quit,’’ she said.
NAN reports that the 2017 campaign will start in April as the jump ball dates await announcement by the league organisers, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). (NAN)
BAO/ENN
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)