Sports Minister: John Enoh Commends Rivers-Hoopers For Third-Place Finish At BAL

Sports Minister: John Enoh Commends Rivers-Hoopers For Third-Place Finish At BAL

Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has hailed Rivers state-based basketball club, Rivers Hoopers, for their impressive third-place finish at the recently concluded Basketball Africa League (BAL) in Kigali, Rwanda. Enoh believes that Rivers Hoopers’ bronze-winning performance will spur further growth in Nigerian basketball.

Rivers Hoopers made history by becoming the first Nigerian basketball club to finish as high as third at the BAL. They secured this achievement by defeating South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers 80-57 in the third-place match held at the BK Arena in Kigali on Friday.

The KingMen, as Rivers Hoopers are also known, advanced to the third-place match after a narrow 89-83 loss to Libyan side Al-Ahly Benghazi in the semi-finals. Despite the semi-final setback, Rivers Hoopers’ coach, Ogoh Odaudu, received the best manager of the tournament award.

Their remarkable performance earned them recognition from Sports Minister John Enoh, who hosted the team in Lagos over the weekend.

“For the first time in BAL history, we won a bronze medal, we made it to the top three, and the best days are ahead for basketball in our nation. The flag of our country was raised and we thank the Rivers Hoopers,” John Enoh shared on X.

“We celebrate our players, our heroes, our stars, our champions, God bless you. We will keep giving you the needed backing as the Federal Ministry of Sports Development.”

He added, “This clearly demonstrates that sports development is beyond the Federal Government. Rivers State has clearly demonstrated that every state has huge potential in sports that brings glory to our nation. They have committed to evolving and we see it. They have brought immense pride to our nation.”