NGR - I want to work with Nigeria Forever – Kevin Cook

LAGOS (National team) - Interview with Kevin Cook, Head Coach of Nigeria during the FIBA 2006 World Championships.

Kevin how do you find your work with Nigeria? Are you enjoying your stay here?
Oh very well, it’s been very wonderful here. In all my 10 years with Houston Comets I never faced fresh challenges like this. I was received with open hands in Nigeria and the officials have been kind with me. I am really enjoying my work with Nigeria. My desire is to develop Nigerian female basketball to the highest level; I mean raise these players until they are very mature. And of course keep them away from soccer.

Can you keep a Nigerian away from soccer? You know you born with the game over there. Have you ever kicked football?
Yes I scored a goal in my entire career but I shot 44 points in a basketball training game. Nobody keeps that record officially but I will remember that achievement forever.

The way you are talking about your love for Nigeria… Perhaps we see you around for the next 10 or 20 years…
O’ yes I hope I will be here for a long time by the grace of God. When I took a college job recently I put a clause that allows me to work with Nigeria because I really want to develop basketball here.

After losing the cup do you still stand by those words?
I love Nigeria and I stand by those words. I can live in any part of Nigeria and work there. I am very impressed by the game here, Nigerians and the friendly way they relate to people. I am here to help and develop basketball and that’s the way it stands.

So how would assess the competition on the continent ?
I coached Nigeria for the first time in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Brazil and that was the toughest arrangement of with Nigeria in the same group with USA, Russia and China. And then the All Africa Games when we went 7-0 before losing the gold medal game to Senegal so I knew this competition would be tough. After spending 10 years in the WNBA I was very familiar with Maiga of the Malian championship team – and also coaching them with Mfon at the Houston Comets I knew they were quite talented. Going back to this championship I have two things to talk about. I had my captain – the highest scorer in the team – out of the championship after the first two games which led up to the loss against Mozambique. She tried to come back with that game but with that knee she just could not continue. If I look at the Nigerian team I know it is young and can competed against any team on the continent for the next 10, 12 years.

Senegal 2007…Do you think the best team won the competition?
Yes, the team that comes on the top of the scoreboard is the best team.
By Pius AYINO
FIBA correspondent in Nigeria