UNILAG basketball team wins first Sino-Nigeria match in Yaba

It was a memorable weekend for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) basketball team as they dominated the Chinese Youth Union team (Gao Sai) in its first ever Sino-Nigeria basketball competition held at the University of Lagos Sports Centre, Yaba.

The UNILAG team displayed high degree of basketball artistry, shots and free ball throws throughout the sessions and ended up with an impressive win 69-39 defeat of the Chinese Youth Union, Nigeria.

Leader of the team, who is also the assistant Coach of UNILAG basketball team, Azuibike Owolabi Ofuoku, said: “My team has more experienced players who have been playing constantly while the opponent tried their best but lacked the fundamentals that is why it was easier for us to outplay them and win the match with a very wide margin.”

Speaking to The Guardian, the Convener and Director of the Confucius Institute, UNILAG, Prof. Wang Yongjing, said the initiative was brought about because of the two countries love for the sport and the fact that sports can bring happiness as well as good relationship to the people.

“We just used this opportunity to boost friendship since we have so many smart young people playing basketball every day from Nigeria and Chinese community. We are also trying to help in promoting good relationship and understanding between the two countries. We have fantastic people from both countries and I greatly enjoyed seeing the ladies participating in the encounter.”

She said the institute plans to make the event a continuous one; the first, second, third and thereafter a yearly event, pointing out that despite the fact that her country lost to UNILAG team, it was just to promote fun and happiness.“We thanked the management of UNILAG for allowing us to use its sports centre, they provided us a doctor, who attended to injured players in the course of the game.”