The sports minister and Chairman National Sports Commission, BolajiAbdullahi yesterday paid a visit to injured and recuperating D’Tiders’ point guard Tony Skinn in hospital in London.
The injured national basketball had sustained injury while playing for Nigeria against Argentina. He also underwent surgery at Homerton hospital, London as a result of the injury he sustained during the encounter.
Reacting to the gesture by the minister, the player said he is happy with the minister and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the immediate and appropriate response to his injury.
Expressing his appreciation and satisfaction to the minister who visited him in the hospital, he said he was particularly impressed by the concern the minister has shown since his injury and thanked Nigerians for the support they have given the nation’s athletes participating at the Olympics. He said he was happy to be a member of the Nigerian basketball team at the Olympics and advised the government to build on the achievement of the present team.
The minister who has been monitoring the athlete since his injury expressed happiness that the surgery was a success. He pointed out that as a result of the performance of the basketball team; corporate bodies who developed the game of cricket in India have expressed interest in Nigerian basketball.
He stressed that the team’s performance in the qualifiers in Venezuela and at the London 2012 games has helped to bring the popularity of basketball at par with football in Nigeria.?
He re-emphasised that government will continue to develop sports in Nigeria as well as make the welfare of youths a priority.