TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday host Afrobasket championship winners D’Tigress during the federal executive council meeting.

This was made known by Solomon Dalung, minister of sports, when he received the team at the media center of the National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday.

Dalung said Buhari will “receive our champions tomorrow morning during the federal executive council,” adding that “this is the demonstration and passion of Mr President for sports development”.

Continuing, he said: “Today is historic for us, it is historic because for our women basketball team, D’Tigress, to become the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket champions after twelve years is an achievement.

“It is an achievement worthy of celebration because winning the African championship the third time establishes you as a force to be reckoned with in African basketball.

The minister said the D’Tigress’ emergence as African champions will serve as an extra motivation as they prepare for the world championship.

“One is indeed convinced that this victory will boost your confidence to face the world at the world championship in Spain,” he said.

“I have always believed that when we do things right, we will always get the right result and I am happy that this victory is another proof of this fact.

“When we embarked on our reforms, we were much criticised but we understood that getting the governance structure for our national sports federation right, held the key to our success in sports.

“So, we made conscious effort to endure the criticism and to deliver to Nigerians new board of federations that we hope will bequeath to us national sporting aspirations.

“Today, I am happy that D’Tigress with the board of the basketball federation have vindicated us of our resolve.

“Even in the face of rejection and opposition, I believe that the victory we are having, not only in basketball but in other sports as well, wrestling, football, gymnastics, etc are all as a result of our determination to reform the sports sector, which drew up passionate and committed personalities as federations leaders.

“I have always maintained that the best we can do to overcome recession is to invest healthily in sports development.”