By Abdullahi Abdulrahman, Yenagoa
National News — The Head Coach of the Bayelsa State Basketball Team, Coach Tony Torunarigha Nelson, has declared that the state team is now ranked among the top three basketball teams in Nigeria following their impressive performance at the Niger Delta Games.
Coach Nelson made this known in an exclusive interview with National News, where he highlighted the team’s outstanding showing against strong opponents from across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the competition was intense, with teams from various parts of the region displaying high levels of skill and competitiveness.
“It was a really tough experience playing against top teams from all over the Niger Delta. Being able to make it to the finals and win a gold medal really took a lot from us,” Coach Nelson said.
He described the gold medal victory as a testament to the team’s resilience, discipline, and commitment.
Coach Nelson further revealed that the team will depart on April 9, 2026, to Lagos alongside the female team for an invitational tournament.
He added that the team is also preparing for major upcoming competitions, including the National Intermediate Championship, Youth Games, and the National Sports Festival.
The coach commended Governor Douye Diri for his continuous support, describing him as a key driving force behind the team’s success.
“I would say this Prosperity Government is one of the best Bayelsa has ever had. Sports have never been elevated this far. We’ve never gone this far in sports in Bayelsa State until this government came in,” he said.
Addressing the team’s success, Coach Nelson dismissed claims that there was any hidden secret behind their achievements, attributing their victories to faith, dedication, and consistent training.
“I will give it to the grace of God. Because sometimes things just fall into place. It’s not just about technical know-how. You might not be smarter than the next person, so I would say God first. But faith without work is dead,” he stated.
“So we train every day. We put in a lot of work and effort to give ourselves that edge over other teams. That’s our secret — hard work,” he added.
Coach Nelson also revealed that building the team was a challenging process, noting that participation in sports is relatively low in some parts of Bayelsa.
“We had to go to schools to scout players ourselves. We made a lot of effort to encourage young people to participate in sports. Then we brought those who showed interest together and trained them nearly every day to bring out the best in them,” he explained.
Coach Nelson concluded that as the team prepares to represent the state in Lagos, their determination to elevate the profile of Bayelsa basketball across Nigeria remains unwavering.
