Ministry to take two Air Warriors stars to Tokyo 2020 Olympics
President, Air Warriors Basketball Club, Abdulmajeed Solademi (left) and Team Captain, Kasham Emmanuel handling over the Zenith Bank Women Basketball trophy to Youth and Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, who is supported by a director in the ministry, Tayo Oreweme.
Speaking while receiving the team in his office, the minister promised that the ministry would sponsor two members of the team to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to gain first-hand experience at the games while learning from Nigeria’s national teams, D’Tigers and D’Tigress.
The minister also assured the gathering that the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) would work closely with the team to make them stronger.
“It is very exciting for me to receive the Air Warriors Basketball Club. When I watched them play in Lagos, I saw a team with talents and skills and predicted that they would go a long way,” the minister said.
“Their story is very compelling. Their first time competing in the basketball league and they came out unbeaten. No team has ever set that record. That is hugely commendable.”
Dare, who attributed Air Warriors’ success to the role of private investors in sports, used the occasion to call on more private individuals and organisations to come on board and help make sports a viable business.
He said: “If you look at their narrative, they are supported by a private individual not government, not the sports ministry, but with a few logistics support by NBBF.
“This says a lot about the role private individuals can play in developing our sports, discovering talents and also nurturing them.”
Speaking on behalf of the club, the Chairman/CEO of Air Warriors, Abduldumajeed Solademi, thanked the minister for the honour done them, describing the minister as a father.
Solademi said the reception would motivate not only the players but also himself to do more with the team and sports generally.
