Rivers Hoopers head Coach Ogoh Odaudu has commended the Rivers State government for the efforts put together in ensuring the team had a successful season.
Unpaid salaries, allowances and poor motivation were the bane of the basketball team which got relegated at the end of the 2013/2014 DSTV Basketball League. At some point, the team could no longer honour their away games while on certain occasions, only few members of the team could attend.
Indeed, the just concluded season is one to reckon with in terms of better funding of the club by the sponsors which all started with rebranding the name of the team from Royal Hoopers to Rivers Hoopers, a way of giving the team a sense of belonging.
In appreciation of the aforementioned, Odaudu who has been in charge of the team since 2010 during which he has won two titles for the club (in 2011 and 2012) said support from the government was a huge factor to their success this season.
“For the first time in a lot of years we received monthly salaries, we get match bonuses which were (paid) on time , win or lose , enough money is given for feeding , and we don’t cramp ourselves in one bus like it was before rather, we take two buses and everybody stretch their legs  and its comfortable,” a grateful Odaudu explained.
The Port Harcourt side beat all odds to get to the semifinals and finished third after beating Kwara Falcons 59-57 in a dramatic game in Lagos.
The former Lagos Islanders coach believes more could be done to support their quest for the title next season.
“The Rivers state government have done a fantastic job with Rivers Hoopers. It’s not enough but they can still do better.
He further added that having their own team bus would play a vital role for them.
“I would love a coaster bus and if the state government or any kind individual comes to our aide, we wouldn’t mind having the person’s name boldly written on the bus. “Odaudu submitted.