…Nigeria’s victory in a friendly against the mighty U.S dream team changed my mind to switch allegiance to wear Green and White colour.
By Philips Robinson-Adefioye, UK
Nigerian-British born, Divine-Blessing Obamakinwa says he is ready to dorn Nigerian colour if invited by the Nigeria Basketball Federation(NBBF).
Obamakinwa whose parents hailed from Alade-Idanre, Ondo State and Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State, South-West Nigeria, in an exclusive interview with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng said though the door is open for both United Kingdom and Nigeria but it all depends where the pendulum swings.
“I am proud to be born in the United Kingdom, precisely England but I know where my heritage comes from, I will definitely love to play for Nigeria, not to play for Nigeria only but to increase the gospel of Basketball in Nigeria and Africa.
“Why I chose Nigeria ahead of England is to raise the attention of Basketball in my ancestral home. I remembered during the D’Tigers preparation to Tokyo 2020 Olympics, their victory against the mighty U.S Basketball team in an international friendly game increased my interest in wearing the Green and White colour” he stated.
Obamakinwa whose club, Liverpool Basketball Club (LBC) occupies first position in the ongoing Manchester Basketball Division 1 League with twelve wins in 12 games said concentration and determination have been the major key for the club remaining at the top of the league table.
The 6fit 7 power forward center described LBC home 75-65 victory against Amabb Basketball Club of Preston as making use of opportunities that came their way in the early minutes of the first quarter.
“Making use of our opportunities in the first and the last quarter was the major key to our victory against Amabb Basketball Club despite some complacencies that set in which made our opponent almost caught up with us.
“There is a lot in the rebound on the balls and I try to do my best to carry the team free bounding and also make sure I help in the defence. Anytime our opponent beat the player on my left I always come to help out in blocking any balls which will make our opponent to overpower us. I am here to play my part and to encourage my team mates because we have like eight to nine matches to end the season and our target is to remain at the top of the league table to get promoted to the Basketball Premier league” He emphasised.
The 21 year old enegmatic center remain focus to breakthrough to NBA College in the United States stressed, playing in NBA has been his dream which he believes it will surely come to reality soon.
According to him, ” NBA is my main goal, is the best league in the world, they’ve got the best players, best coaches, best cities and I know is hard to get there but I know if I put my mind with the help of God, I know I can get there.
“Just watching NBA college it can never be compared with the one in UK, I can say they ‘ve got the fastest players, strongest players, even though you take the physical aspect, the IQ of the players in NBA, it’s far more advanced compare to UK”.
The University of London student of Sports Management whose Kelvin Durant is his role model hinted that the ultimate goal is seeing himself playing in NBA.
“I try to watch many games that I can, my favourite player like I said is Kelvin Durant, I like to study his games, I also watch the way he work out his games whenever Kelvin is in the gym, his wealth of his experience by watching him speaks huge volume in my play” Obamakinwa hinted.
