Tiwa Savage visits basketballers, back them for African trophy

Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team on Sunday enjoyed a close touch of the Nigeria music industry when sensational singer, Tiwa Savage paid an unscheduled visit to their camp at Protea Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Extrasportsnigeria.com reports.
The visit of the songstress was said by the Nigeria Basketball Federation to be a part of a welfare package put in place to motivate the team and aid their bonding ahead of the AfroBasket tournament starting in Mali this week.
Tiwa who is presently signed to Mavin Records took time out to encourage the ladies to remain focused as they perfect plans to campaign in Mali in style and win the tournament.
She said, “I am so elated that I had the opportunity to come here and associate with a team that has been getting some positive rating amongst sports loving Nigerians. As a major proponent of the girl/woman power, I so much believe in you to do Nigeria proud when you file out against other countries in Africa.”
Tiwa said she was glad to associate with ladies who are rated second on the continent tipped strongly to contenders for the 2017 title.
She promised that a better arrangement would be made after the tournament to host D’Tigress irrespective of the result recorded at the championship.
She said, “It’s really unfortunate that men are always enjoying a place of pride in Nigeria especially in the sports circle. I want to encourage and motivate you to go to Mali and prove a point and show Nigerians reasons why they should support you.”
She enjoined the team to see themselves as champions and ensure that they do everything possible to bring back the cup.
Responding, team captain Aisha Mohammed described the visit as a pleasant surprise which they would relish for a long time to come.
Aisha who started her international career with the senior national team in 2001 said, “This visit has really given us another reason to bring the cup home.
“This visit has clearly shown that we are appreciated by our fans and Nigerians home and abroad and we are desperate not to disappoint them. We want to repay their faith in us and the only way we can do that is to bring the cup back home.”
It was a training-free day on Sunday and the ladies also enjoyed a boat ride led by coach Sam Vincent.
They will play their match opening game against Mozambique Saturday with their departure from Lagos billed for August 16.