The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) may fail in its bid to lure the services of American coach Sam Vincent to boost the Olympic aspirations of the female national team, due to lack of funds. Vincent was said to have contributed immensely, through an adhoc arrangement, to the success of Nigerian girls at the African Women Championship held December, 2003 in Mozambique.
The Nigerian team fondly dubbed 'D' Tigresses' won the tournament for the very first time in its 18-year
history and automatically qualified to represent Africa in the female basketball event of the 2004
Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
President of the NBBF Gyang Buba told nigeriasports.com that Vincent was instrumental to
D' Tigresses success in Mozambique having recognised the potentials in the basketballers.
"Without taking anything away from the indigenous coaches, I think this American played a great role in
the team", said Buba. "Ever since that championship we've been trying to persuade him to come on board
fully. But our major problem now is funds, we don't have the kind of money needed to employ such a
trainer".
Interestingly, the Nigerian team has been drawn along with Brazil, Australia, Russia, Japan and hosts Greece
in Group A of the August games in Athens.
This implies that the D' Tigresses would require the technical input of such an expatriate to be able to
rub shoulders with established teams at the Olympics.
Defending champions the United States, China, Korea, New Zealand, Czech Republic and Spain are nestled in
Group B of the same event.
"We have been reaching out to prospective sponsors, even the sports ministry, but nothing has come out of
it. What I observe is most of these sponsors like identifying with you only when you are successful. It
is not supposed to be like that, they should be there when you are also struggling, we should be partners in
progress," lamented the NBBF president.
The basketball federation, it was disclosed, had since submitted its programme ahead of the Olympics to the
Sports Ministry and is only waiting for funds to kick-start preparations.
Meanwhile, inidcations are rife that the NBBF might lose the services of Vincent to sports authorities in
South Africa where the American is also said to be in hot demand.
Report: Dipo Okubanjo
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