ZHUL-QI’DA 13, 1429 A.H.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 10 2008
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KNSG task Pillars B/ball team
By NAJIB LAWAN DANBAZAU
KANO state government has pledged to motivate the players and technical crew of the Nigerian representatives, Kano Pillars Basketball Team in the forthcoming African Zonal preliminary basketball competition scheduled to commence today in Lagos .
The state commissioner of information, sports and culture, Barr. Haruna Isa Dederi stated this yesterday while addressing players and officials of the basketball team at the State Tourist Camp before their departure to Lagos ahead of the competition.
According to him, the present administration Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has been encouraging athletes morally and financially, adding that the state government will continue to do so towards maintaining the high profile of the state and the country at large insporting activities.
Barr. Dederi who was represented by his permanent secretary, Alhaji Sani Dawaki Gabasawa further explained that the recent performance of both Pillars Football Club and Pillars Basketball Team was an indication of the present administration’s keen interest to the overall development of sports in the state.
He said that it is on record that after 20 years, Kano Pillars Basketball Team has once again put the name of the state at the national and international books as far as basketball competition is concerned.
He charged the players and the technical crew to redouble their efforts, since the team is presently representing the country at a continental engagement with a view to emerging victorious at the end of the championship.
The commissioner also urged the players to be good ambassadors throughout the competition and called on the people of the state to continue to pray for the success of the team.
Earlier, the state Director of sports, Alhaji Ibrahim Abba implored the players and had technical crew to do everything possible to keep the flag flying by qualifying for the final stage of the competition in Tunisia come December.
Alhaji Abba however, said that the state sports council is willing and ready to ensure that the state government motivate athletes in order to ginger them toward achieving the musch desired objectives.
He commended the players and the technical crew for their wonderful performance at the just-concluded Nigeria Premier League Basketball Super 8 and urged them to sustain the tempo ahead of the Afican Zonal Preliminary.
In his response, the captain of Kano Pillars Basketball Team, Ahmad Dan Mama pledged to do their best to ensure that Pillars qualify for the final stage in Tunisia .
Dan Mama however, called on the state government to look into their welfare and assured the state government that they will not disappoint the people of the state at the tournament.
The permanent secretary was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the state governor on Sports Development, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Mu’azu Kawu as well as the state Director of Sports, Alhaji Ibrahim Abba.
The team has already storm Lagos and information reaching Daily Triumhp Sports indicates that the players are in high spirit ahead of the competition which is expected to attract some West African countries.
