Daily Trust

Hoopers won’t underrate opponent, says Odaudu

- By Orkula Shaagee

@shagcy Rivers Hoopers’ Head Coach, Ogoh Odaudu has promised that his team will not underestim­ate the threat posed by their opponents this week in the ongoing Kwese Premier Basketball League.

After losing their season’s opener, Hoopers are now on a run of three consecutiv­e victories and the KingsMen will host two newly promoted teams this week, NAF Rockets today and Hoops & Read on Saturday.

“Basketball is not played on paper but on the basketball court. The day you decide to underrate any opponent, that’s the day they will come and mess you up on your home court. We are not invincible,” said Odaudu.

With the win one, lose one syndrome suffered by the Port Harcourt side last season looking over, the former Lagos Islander coach has vowed to keep the fans happy this season.

“We were not in the good books of our fans at all (last season) but we want to remain in their good books (this season). We are going to keep satisfying them with every opportunit­y we get at home and hopefully win more games away,” he added.

Similarly, Hoopers assistant captain, Belema Alamina stressed that the harmony in the team has strengthen­ed them in achieving more successes.

“We are all excited that we are coming out this strong because it was disappoint­ing (when) we lost our first game. We had to come back, put our heads together and play like friends and family that is what is giving us this lead right now,” Alamina explained.

NAF Rockets have won just two of the five games they have played this season while Hoops & Read have recorded two away wins against the Rockets and Oluyole Warriors.

A former Nigeria internatio­nal, Ogoh is not underratin­g the two Lagos based teams.

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