Coach of Nigeriaโs female basketball team, DโTigress, Rena Wakama has said she wouldnโt turn down a Chieftaincy title in recognition for her enviable achievements since being appointed as the teamโs handler.
Wakama led the Nigerian side to win the Afrobasket tournament, making her the first woman to do so. Now at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic games, she has become the first African woman to qualify a team to the Olympics Basketball quarter final.
The ticket didnโt come easy as they defeated world number three, Australia and world number five, Canada, losing only to France to achieving the feat. This has spurred Okirika people in Rivers state where Wakama is from to consider bestowing her with a chieftaincy title.
In a zoom meeting yesterday between few of us journalists and Wakama organised by NBBF media team, the good looking coach asked if she would accept a Chieftaincy title now or wait till sheโs 50 years said โwe see but let me discuss with my family first.
Wakama who answered many other questions on the teamโs scintillating performances had this to say about their todayโs fixture with the USA โwe are really excited because we want to play the best of the best.ย
โWe believe that everything happened for a reason.
โWe met them already in Belgium but we did not play our best so we are looking forward to meeting them again on Wednesday putting up a better.performance.
โSo we are looking forward to itโ.
The formerย basketballer turned coach continued further โI think the first game that we played with them was an eye opener. We were able to watch the game and break down what we did wrong, what we did good and I think now that our girls has the experience of playing against them, it would help a lot. โWeโve also played about five games now, we had three friendly and three matches here so we are going into the game confidently, playing well and we have a great addition to the team (Ezinne), that brings another level of intensity and experience to us.
โSo I think USA has not played against this team before because the team they played against in Belgium is different from this team.
Therefore, we are looking forward to doing what we do and do it wellโ, she concluded.