Fiba zone 3: Udeaja, Akashile hail FirstBank players’ team spirit

Two top players of FirstBank Basketball Club – Chioma Udeaja and Nkechi Akashile – have attributed the success of the team at the ongoing FIBA Africa Zone Three Championship in Lome to bonding.

Udeaja, who is also the captain of the team, stated that the players have played more as a team because they have been able to carry out their coaches’ instruction during games.

She added that the camping, which was held before the competition started, also helped the players understand themselves more. “It was good we had the camping because it allowed the players to get used to each other,” Udeaja said.

“What we have to do is to use our strength to our advantage, and that is unity. It has kept us going and hopefully it will help us at the African finals in Mozambique,” she added.

Despite dominating proceeding at the Zone Three championship, Udeaja commended all the other team, noting that the good results were a result of good preparation.

Speaking in the same vein, Akahile also said that the team’s aim is to go to the African championship to do better than their last outing.

“We have finished fourth in the last two editions of the African championship. But with the level of the team now, we can win a medal in Mozambique.”

She, however, stated that the team would have to work harder to realise that ambition. “The level of the African championship is higher than the zone three qualifiers. So we all know that we need to work harder than ever before.”

FirstBank will take on home team, Etoile Filante tomorrow (Saturday) on the final day of competition.