Oyedeji Rejoins Tigers, Team Plays in Texas

“I have had a rethink. Sincerely I was really moved by a Nigerian movie (Mayor) I watched recently. The message of patriotism in that film was quite compelling. I also considered the advice of close associates in Nigerian basketball.

 “So I thought it better to return rather than criticise from the outside. A lot of issues forced my earlier stand but I know now it is best to stay in and improve on so many things for the better. I believe that God can use some of us, to improve the fortune of Nigerian basketball, within and outside the country. We can do a lot better in terms of sponsorship and endorsement for the national team especially within the next two years.

I’m a proud Nigerian Tiger,” the National centre said. The former Comets centre had told the media last year that he had resigned from playing with the national team, The Tigers. Before that stance, the player had featured in three African Nations Cup starting with Angola ’99 through the 2003 meet in Alexandria, Egypt.

 The national camp in the United States of America has continued in full steam with the team currently playing an invitational tournament in Texas as part of the build up. Oyedeji confirmed that players in camp include Obinna Ekezie of Timber-wolves, former Celtics power forward Julius Nwosu, Kingsley Ogwudire and team captain Tunji Awojobi. Others are Mohammed Lasege (Jango), Imeh Udoka (sibling of Mfon Udoka of Lady Tigers fame) and a host of new players picked form Nigerians in Diaspora.

 The Tigers are in camp for the African Nations Cup starting August 14th in Algeria. The final team will return to Nigeria where they do the last stage with a couple of charity works by the first week of August before jetting out.

 The top three teams will make it too the world championship in Japan next year. Nigeria got its silver medal in Dakar ’97 followed by a repeat in Angola ’99 before slipping to fifth place in Morocco two years later. The

Tigers finished second again to Angola in Alexandria ‘2003.

Former D'Tigers head coach and owner of Nigeria foremost basketball club Comets, Ayo bakare has called for caution in the approach to the Cup of Nations where it is believed that most of the country's technocrats are focussing on Nigeria perennial foe, Angola on the premise that other countries are as good as Angola.

He is optimistic that this is Nigeria best chance to win the elusive Cup of Nations.

"Honestly, speaking this is Nigeria best moment to win the Cup of Nations for the first time, as you all know that preparation has been our bane in the past and it is good to know that everyone in the federation right now are focus and the team would have no excuse to fail in Algeria because prepartion is in abundant supply."

Three home based players are also billed to join the team either in the USA or in Europe according to www.eurobasket.com investigation.

The three back-court players are Ogo Odaudu and Priwitt Gagara of Comets basketball club and Abdulrahman Mohammed of the Customs basketball club.

According to a top official of the Nigeria basketball house who disclosed this on condition of annonymity, that the three are the best back-court players the country can boast of at the moment, though Customs two-guard, Mohammed is rated as the best among the pack, the duo of Gagara and Odaudu who operate from the point guard position are being considered due to their present form and experience.