Fact Check: Is D'Tigress Coach, Rena Wakama Former National Team Player As NBBF Claimed?

Fact Check: Is D'Tigress Coach, Rena Wakama Former National Team Player As NBBF Claimed?

By Niyi Busari 

On 30th June, 2023 the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) appointed an Assistant Coach at Stony Brook University, USA, Rena Wakama as the Head Coach of D'Tigress in a two-year contract, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

Rena Wakama whose parents are based in Abuja is from Okrika, Rivers State. Rena, 31, born in America, said visiting her parents in Nigeria every year with the last in 2019 kept her in touch with the West African country.

Announcing her appointment, the NBBF via one of its social media handles (twitter handle of D'Tigress) described Wakama as former Nigeria basketball player.

"Our new Coach!, Rena Wakama!!

"Wakama, a former Nigerian national team player, currently serves as an Assistant Coach at Stony Brooks University, USA.

Her two year contract went into effect on Friday, June 30. 🏀 https://t.co/HfTUxSRyHV

This misleading title attached to the coach was taken up by many media houses within Nigeria and abroad without verification.

"According to the NBBF, the choice of Wakama was well-thought-out as she will bring her wealth of experience, having previously represented Nigeria as a national team player." A national newspaper in Nigeria reported.

“Wakama was a 4-year letterman at the University of Western Carolina and played professional basketball in the United Kingdom, in addition to playing for the Senior Nigerian National Team." One top Nigeria Newspaper wrote.

“Coach Rena Wakama was a former Nigerian National team player, and currently an Assistant Coach at Stony Brooks University, as Head Coach. A Lagos based national newspaper reported.

"Wakama, who hails from Rivers, is a former national team player and currently an assistant coach at Stony Brooks University in the US. Another Lagos based top newspaper wrote

Did she play for Nigeria as claimed by the NBBF?

HERE IS WHAT WE FOUND OUT 

VERIFICATION 

She did not make D'Tigress team list in 2015. Meanwhile she claimed to play for Nigeria in 2015 (between June and August). Having been left out of the squad to the 2015 Women's Afrobasket, her mum paid for her flight ticket to the competition. A member of D'Tigress that won bronze medal at the 2015 FIBA Afrobasket told BSN Sports.

Here is the list of 21 players that involved in the 2015 Women's Afrobasket qualifiers. 12 out of the 21 players made the final roster for the tournament where D'Tigress beat Angola (65-55) to win bronze medal at the tournament.

The full list:

Akaraiwe Nkem, Akashili Nkechi, Atosh Ukpe, Chinyere Juliet, Edema Edaforioka Ulo, Ekworomadu Joyce, Elonu Adaora, Ibiam Elem, Imovbioh Sarah, Iornumbe Regina, Ndidi Madu, Nwagbo Chineze, Deborah Chidimma, Sarah Chidimma, Ogoke Sarah, Ogunjinmi Helen, Okonkwo Grace, Okpe Patience,Sanni Olayinka, Udeaja Chioma, Ugoja Uju

As regards playing for D'Tigress, Rena in her interview with ThisDay said, "Yeah, I’ve been involved since I graduated from college. I graduated from college in 2014 and then in 2015 I was with them (D’Tigress) when they travelled to Cameroon (AfroBasket). We did not qualify; I think we finished third or fourth and so we did not qualify. And then I played for the club (First Bank) and we won a championship. But I was involved in 2015/2016.

She added, Yeah, obviously you know a lot of rules on registering for the first time. FIBA has a bunch of rules; a bunch of regulations to meet but unfortunately when I came I missed the deadline to get registered. But before then I had met and trained with them and then played with them in London. In London, there was issue about releasing me but then later everything was cleared and I was able to play for First Bank.

D'Tigress are African champions three-straight times and now going for the fourth. As a matter of fact they have not lost a game to any African team since 2017. This raised issues on whether or not she can lead such team to victory particularly now that many regular players threatened to pull out of the competition.

Rena will have to do a lot to be able to prove her capability, pedigree and experience as a coach and particularly regarding taking up the job of the best team in Africa and being appointed few weeks to the Championship.

Her track record showed that she has no experience neither as a coach nor as one who knew much about Afrobasket (African basketball)

On her qualification to coach the team national team, she wrote on her Twitter handle, "God doesn’t call on the qualified, he qualifies the called” - Excited for this new journey! Thank you for all of the calls,msgs, and well wishes. Let’s get to work!" Did she just admit that she's not qualified to handle the task of winning the 2023 Afrobasket? Time will tell.

VERDICT 

The claim that Rena Wakama played for the Nigeria senior women national team is false. She has not played any match for Nigeria national team/s as claimed by the NBBF.