Mark Mentors Basketball Coach, Peter Ahmedu believes Eastern Michigan University center, Olalekan Ajayi will bea valuable asset for the country’s national basketball team, D’Tigers ahead of the 2015 FIBA Africa Basketball Championship (Afrobasket) scheduled to hold in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis between August 19 and 30.
Ahmedu who was Ajayi coach at Dodan Warriors Academy before moving to United State of America in 2009, believes the 6’11 power forward who has already made himself available for his fatherland, will provide valuable experience to the national team.
NBBF President, Tijani Umar earlier this week disclosed that the federation has set up a two-man task force that will travel to the United States to meet with the Nigerian players abroad in order to carry them along with the national team programmes and Ahmedu suggested that Ajayi should be part of the players.
“Ajayi has always been a committed player. He played under me and I knew that time that he will be a star player. He was a young boy growing up very fine until he got the opportunity to school and play in the United States. With what he has learnt so far in the United States and the position he plays now, I think he has a lot to offer the country.
“So, I’m advising the Federation if they have players that are valuable and are ready to play for their fatherland, such players should be invited to come and play for the country. That will actually help because playing the Afrobasket, we will need more hands, the home based players alone will not be enough to be able to put Nigeria in better position”, Ahmedu told SportingLife.
He however believes the country’s national team has all at their disposal to do well at the Afrobasket , which also serve as a qualifying event for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“We have already qualified for the Afrobasket after beating Burkina Faso. With the caliber of players they want to bring to join the ones at home, we hope the D’Tigers will be able to qualify from the Afrobasket for the Olympics. The Afrobasket will be used as qualifiers as it will give hope for any country that finishes first second or third to go for the Olympics. So with the caliber of players that will come back to play for us, we should be able to pick that Olympic slot,” the former Nigeria U-18 men’s National team Assistant Coach said.