The vice-president of Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Babatunde Ogunade has raised hope that Rivers Hoopers of Port Harcourt will participate in this year’s continental elite clubs competition, but disclosed that the governing body will provide only technical support to The Garden City side, not financial assistance.
Sports247 recalls that Hoopers’ captain, Anthony Koko Victor recently lamented over the lingering political logjam in Rivers State that has blocked their source of funding for preparations and participation in the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) from April 4-13 in Rabat, Morocco.
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However, in contrast with high expectations that the NBBF would bail Hoopers out of their current quagmire, as they prepare to battle Stade Malien of Mali, Al-Ittihad of Egypt and hosts FUS Rabat of Morocco in the Kalahari Conference, Ogunade expatiated that the federation will only play an advisory role for the Rivers State-owned outfit.
Ogunade said, “We are part of the three qualified countries, and Rivers Hoopers will represent us. They won the local league, so they will represent Nigeria. That’s what it is. As far as that goes, the league will take place, and we expect them to be part of it.”
The sports guru, who in 2023 doubled as chairman of Ogun State Basketball Association, disclosed that the NBBF has already set in motion a build-up schedule to help The Hoopers prepare for the high-profile competition, which he said includes a friendly match against Esperance of Tunisia, in order to get a feel of the style they will face in their clashes with FUS and Al-Ittihad.
“They will play Esperance Sportive, and they will have enough games and enough time to prepare them for the play-off in Morocco. But, we have to understand that each team will take care of itself. Our job is to provide them with technical support, and that’s what we are going to do.
Each team is independent, owned by an individual or a government. So, the federation cannot do the work of an individual or government. They must take charge of the team and fund them for the competition,” Ogunade insisted
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