Nigeria Content Online

The battle for top
honours at the ongoing Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship
will be a straight fight between the Kwara and Delta State
representatives, Sani Turi, coach of Kaduna’s Queen Amina College has
said.

Kwara’s Dalex Royal
College have been impressive so far in the championship and they won in
their first game against Adamawa’s Government Girls Secondary School
with ease.

The same goes for Delta’s Asaba Girls Grammar School who demolished Queen Amina College 44-12.

Judging from what
he has seen of the Kwara and Delta representatives, Turi believes both
sides are a class above other teams taking part in the championship,
although he said he will be satisfied to see his team finish in third
place.

“We will be
definitely be satisfied with the bronze medal because I don’t think
that the young players I brought for this championship can rub
shoulders with the Kwara and Delta teams,” said Turi.

“The two teams are
very strong sides and I think the title will be fiercely competed for
by these teams. For us, we will settle for the bronze medal which we
believe will inspire our young team to aim higher at the next edition
of the tournament.”

Adamawa coach not left out

Just like his
Kaduna counterpart, the Adamawa State coach, Dickson Tinism, also
believes the Kwara and Delta representatives are in a league of their
own. Nonetheless, Tinism looks forward to a tough semi-final clash
after qualifying for the tournament’s last-four after Zamfara’s
Government Girls Secondary School failed to turn up for their match on
Wednesday.

As a result, the
Adamawa team were given the maximum points, which guaranteed them a
place in the last-four – alongside group winners, Kwara’s Dalex Royal
College.

“It is painful that
we could not use the match against Zamfara to tune up for the semi
final clash but with what we had achieved this year, I think we have a
good chance even though we will be facing a tough side in the
semi-final stage,” said Tinism.

Commited sponsors

Nestle Nigeria PLC,
sponsors of the annual championship, reaffirmed its commitment to the
development of basketball. The company promised participants and
spectators an exciting time at the national finals.

Walter Okafor, the Category Business Manager (Beverages) of the
company, said that no expense has been spared to ensure a befitting
national final in the usual Nestle Milo tradition. He expressed delight
at the high standard of play demonstrated by the various teams so far
at the national finals saying that the youngsters have displayed great
skills, discipline, fair play and commitment to the game.