Basket Ball: Commissioner Urges Hoopers To Initiate Programmes

Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Fred Igwe has called on the technical crew of  Royal Hoopers Basketball team of Rivers State to initiate programmes that will affect youths in the state positively.

Hon Igwe made the call when technical crew of the Basketball team paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the weekend in Port Harcourt.

According to him, sports is an avenue to build character and discipline, adding that there is every need to bring the state to a sporting city.

“I advise you to initiate programmes that will have direct impact on our youths in the state”.

“We need to bring back the glorious days of sports in the state, as to ensure that our state is a sporting city,” Igwe said.

The commissioner expressed joy over the impressive performance of the state basketball team and her numerous achievements over the period.

“I am particularly very happy of the visit and I am also impressed with the achievements you people (Royal Hoopers) have recorded, you actually did Rivers State proud” he stated.

He further, commended the club for introducing street basketball tournament, as a means to curb youth restiveness in the state.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation Ifia Ozaka, who is also the team manager, appealed to the  state government through the Ministry Sports, to include their salaries and allowances into the recurrent expenditure of the ministry.

“Our prayer is that salaries and allowances of the club be taken into consideration in the ministry’s recurrent expenditure, as has been for our sister clubs Sharks and Dolphins FCs, as this will ensure timely payment of staff salaries and allowances and indeed reduce the hardship of the players,” Ozaka said. He further informed the commissioner that the club is indebted at various quarters, saying that if not settled, it might affect their participation in FIBA Africa Club Championship.

Tonye Orabere