The Rivers Hoopers are off to an abysmal start in the Basketball Africa League, and the Nigerian team has been booted out of the competition. The reason? The Nigerian Basketball Federation failed to meet standards set by FIBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). But who are they? And what are their requirements?
Bet 9ja explains everything you need to know about the FIBA, including why the organization exists and how it affects Nigeria’s national basketball team.
The Amateurish Starting Line-up
The Rivers Hoopers’ starting line-up looks especially amateurish, due in large part to their unfamiliarity with one another. For example, veteran forward and team captain Sam Ekwe was only recently added to the squad after spending last season playing professionally for Maranhense from Brazil’s second division league. The 6-foot-5 Ekwe is expected to fill a leadership role on offense and defense for Rivers and is key for them to advance deep into competition play, yet he still has a hard time communicating with his teammates. Forward Stephen Oduwa also transferred over from other teams late last season and found himself sitting out all of their preseason matches due to injury, which made it difficult for him to gain chemistry with other players.
Improper Rotation
Rivers Hoopers have had a lot of problems with their rotation. They rely on their top five players, leaving everyone else scrambling for playing time. If Rivers hopes to stay competitive, they need to properly rotate more players into their starting lineup and use them consistently as fourth-quarter insurance (rather than just gambling). Too often, players like Chibuzor Okonkwo (forwards) and Ogonna Nnamani (center) are left waiting around until late in games, rarely getting any minutes early on. Without playing regularly, it’s hard for bench players to remain sharp—and mistakes will happen when they’re called upon. Rivers would be wise to focus more on improving their rotation rather than relying on individual talent alone.
Coaching Blunders
One of the issues with Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers is a lack of quality coaching. A problem that plagued them even during their 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup stint, one that can only be attributed to inexperience and being overwhelmed by such a huge task. Experience has shown us that it takes multiple tournaments for coaches and players alike to truly understand their own strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, Rivers Hooper’s management did not have time on its side, adding yet another coaching mistake into their ever-growing list of woes.
