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| *champions of Nigeria |
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| *READY:A First deepwater player(l) |
Reigning Nigeria Nigeria women champions First Deepwater basketball club of Lagos will leave the country Wednesday for Morocco to participate in the final round of the 2013 edition of the Africa Champions Cup for women which holds in the city of Meknes, Morocco, from November 22 to December First Deepwater, who are also FIBA Africa Zone-3 champions have set a target to stamp their authority in Africa women club championship with an eye to finish in the medal range finish in Meknes although, according to club chairman, Babatunde Babalola and head coach Lateef Erinfolami. This will be the team's second outing in the continent as a first shot in Lagos as host in 2011 ended in a third place finish. The duo spoke in separate interviews as the girls went into final rounds of training in Lagos. Coach Erinfolami said said of their plans and expectations “The only good thing for us First Deepwater Club is to finish within medal range in Meknes, Morocco because we have paid our dues and it is time we take our rightful place in Africa club basketball. We have gone through series of training and so, the players are ready as the management led by our able chairman Babatunde Babalola has empowered the team well enough and we will we are set to take Morocco by storm not irrespective of which teams are on parade at the championship. The club is also out to equal the record set by another Nigerian side First Bank club of Lagos which won the African club title for the first time in 2003 in Mozaqmbique. Asked about what Nigerians should expect from the club, he responded "Nigerians should expect us to return home with a medal but the color- gold silver or bronze, I cannot predict at this stage but all I can say is that First Deepwater basketball club would fight to have a place at the podium, Coach Erinfolami concluded. Club chairman, Babalola, who is leading the team to Morocco, reaffirmed they would make a statement about Nigeria basketball in the continent. According to him “if the club could do it in the Nigeria Women league in the last four seasons by sremaining undisputed champions, in addition to conquering FIBA Africa Zone-3 since it emergence in 2009, “it is time the club moved from the 2011 third place finish on first attempt to something more precious. my expectation from the team in Morocco is to be in the medal range.”
Other
teams on parade in Meknes are Kenya's Eagles Wings from FIBA Africa
Zone-5, INSU basketball clubs; Angola's Interclube and Primeiro
D’Agosto will from Zone-6, Arc-En-Ciel and INSS of Democratic
Republic of Congo from Zone-4, Club Omnisports de Meknès, Morocco
are the host club and Ittihad Riadi de Tanger of Morocco from Zone-1.
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