Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu has expressed
confidence in his team’s readiness for the Basketball
Africa League (BAL) playoffs, set to tip off this weekend in South
Africa.
The Nigerian champions have made key roster additions
to address defensive shortcomings observed during the Kalahari Conference.
In a strategic move to solidify their defense, the
Hoopers have acquired Ahmed Doumbia, a guard known for his defensive prowess in
the French League, and Chingka Garba, a Nigerian forward who plies his trade in
Rwanda.
“We wanted to address our defensive issues,” said
Coach Odaudu.
“Ahmed is very defensive-minded and a beast on
offense. We needed someone to support Kelvin Amayo in the backcourt, and
Doumbia fits that role perfectly.”
The addition of Garba also brings much-needed depth to
the frontcourt.
“We were almost playing Peter Olisemeka to the
ground,” Odaudu explained. “We needed someone who could share that workload,
and Garba was the right fit.”
Rivers Hoopers closed out their Kalahari Conference
campaign with a 4-2 record, suffering both defeats at the hands of Al Ittihad
Alexandria.
Despite the strong finish, Coach Odaudu acknowledged
the team needed to raise their game ahead of the playoffs.
“We need to up the ante to compete in South Africa,”
he said following the conference games in April. “There’s a lot of work to be
done, but we have the time and tools to come out better.”
The KingsMen are set to face Tunisian side US Monastir
in their opening game on Saturday, June 7.
The two teams share a balanced head-to-head record,
with two wins apiece from their four previous encounters.
This marks Rivers Hoopers’ third appearance at the
BAL. They debuted in the league’s inaugural season in 2021 and returned in
2024, where they claimed a historic third-place finish—the best result ever by
a Nigerian club.
As the playoffs approach, the team is focused,
fortified, and determined to make another deep run.
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