Defenders should go for broke against AS Sale- Kida

NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida has tasked Nigeria’s lone surviving representative in the 2018/2019 FIBA AfroLeague, Defenders Basketball Club of Abuja to go for broke when they host AS Sale of Morocco in the first leg of Elite Final 8, National Daily gathered.

Kida gave the charge on Thursday ahead of the team’s meeting on Saturday at 3:30pm at the Indoor Sports Hall, Package B of the Abuja National Stadium.

He enjoined fans in and around Abuja to come out in their numbers and cheer the team to victory to boost their chances of progressing to the semifinals.

“This team cannot do it all by themselves. The result in the first leg will be crucial to their progress to the semifinal of the competition. They need their fans, they need Nigerians and we all must unite behind the Defenders on Saturday.”

He commended them for advancing from Group B after finishing second behind ES Rades of Tunisia with 2 wins out of 3 games played in Cotonou, Benin Republic while stressing that advancing to semifinals should be their next target.

“We are quite proud of the fact that one of our representatives on the continent, Defenders Basketball Club of Abuja have gone all the way on the continental front by qualifying for the Elite 8 of the FIBA AfroLeague. To be one of the best 8 clubs in Africa is not a mean feat.”

He promised that the federation will not rest on his oars to ensure that these good performances are improved upon in the future.

Compatriots, Rivers Hoopers lost to the same team in the group stage 59-88 points thereby failing to progress to the Elites.