The Dolphins Girls’s Basketball staff have topped their exceptional marketing campaign with a second Zenith Bank/NBBF Girls’s Basketball League title, dedicating the victory to the reminiscence of their late founder, Wale Aboderin.
Mr Aboderin, who handed away on 30 Might 2018, was instrumental within the institution and early progress of the Dolphins, investing in infrastructure comparable to a clubhouse {and gymnasium} to help the staff’s growth.
In keeping with the present director, Olumide Oyedeji, his imaginative and prescient continues to information the membership’s success.
“Reaching this milestone is a testomony to the inspiration laid by our founder throughout his lifetime, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this historic second,” Mr Oyedeji informed reporters after the ultimate. “I used to be nonetheless taking part in when Aboderin started investing within the staff, and after his dying, it grew to become important to proceed what he began as a result of he wouldn’t need to see the staff falter.”
“For all these years, we’ve got labored diligently with the gamers and administration, and the outcomes are evident, particularly throughout our journey from the convention to the ultimate towards First Financial institution,” the Olympian added.
The Dolphins underlined their resilience final weekend on the Indoor Sports activities Corridor of the Nationwide Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, with a hard-fought 61-55 victory over First Financial institution.
The win not solely denied the “Elephant Women” a record-extending tenth league title but additionally capped an exhilarating finale that went into extra time after the 2 groups have been locked 53-53 in regulation.
It was a day of celebration for Nigerian basketball, with high dignitaries, together with the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Financial institution, Dame Adaora Umeoji; the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Musa Kida; and the Chairman of the Nationwide Sports activities Fee, Shehu Dikko, all in attendance.
Ms Umeoji carried out the ceremonial tip-off of the ultimate moments after MFM sealed third place with a 70-42 victory over Royal Aces.
Zenith Financial institution, which has bankrolled the ladies’s league since its inception, additionally used the event to reaffirm its dedication to the game.
Representing Ms Umeoji after she left for one more official engagement, the financial institution’s Govt Director, Adobi Stella Nwapa, highlighted the strides made on this yr’s version.
“As the only real sponsor of this occasion, you’ll be able to see how the occasion has remodeled. The value cash improve is now N15.5M,” she stated. “We have been capable of go reside by livestreams of all of the video games and other people in America, particularly the African champions, D’Tigress, and a few scouts wanting on the gamers with the hope of recruiting them. So we’re pleased with the result and every part that occurred from begin to finish.”
The Dolphins’ triumph indicators not solely the consolidation of Aboderin’s enduring legacy but additionally a contemporary chapter for girls’s basketball in Nigeria, because the league approaches its twentieth anniversary below Zenith Financial institution’s sponsorship.
