Rivers Hoopers coach Ogoh Odaudu has confirmed that the team has strengthened its squad in a bid to tackle defensive shortcomings ahead of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs in Pretoria, South Africa.
Odaudu expressed concerns regarding the team’s defensive performance, particularly following their disappointing finish in the Kalahari Conference, where they suffered two defeats to Al Ittihad Alexandria.
To address these issues, the Hoopers have signed defensive specialist Ahmed Doumbia from the French League, alongside Nigerian player Chingka Garba, who is currently competing in Rwanda.
“We aimed to rectify our defensive problems by bringing in players who can make a difference,” Odaudu stated.
When discussing the additions of Doumbia and Garba, Odaudu remarked: “We needed to improve our defensive capabilities. Ahmed has a strong defensive mindset and is also formidable on the offensive end. He will assist Kelvin [Amayo] with defensive responsibilities in the backcourt.”
Odaudu’s preparations have been smooth, especially with the inclusion of Nigerian forward Chingka, which enhances the team’s overall quality.
“We also needed to alleviate the workload on Peter [Olisemeka],” Odaudu continued. “Garba Chingka’s arrival will help us manage that.”
The KingsMen are set to face US Monastir in a seeding game on Saturday, June 7, a team they have previously encountered four times, with a balanced record of two wins and two losses.
