...We will come back more prepared next year
By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye who was in Port Harcourt for the NBBF Premier League Final 8
Head Coach of Hoops N' Read basketball club, Victor Mensah, has assured the teaming fans and supporters of the Lagos State based team that he and his team will come better prepared next year to win the League.
The Benin Republic born coach in an interview with your authoritative and award-winning news channel, FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG stated that he has take lessons from the final loss to Rivers Hoopers, the defending champion in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The men from the Centre of Excellence lost to Rivers Hoopers, the bronze medalist at the 2024 Basketball Africa League, (BAL) 71-54 points in the final of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, (NBBF) Men's Premier League.
Hoops N' Read despite having possession of the ball throughout the first and second quarter failed to convert it to their advantage with series of poor turnovers and air Balls.
This issue of poor turnovers and air Balls, the coach highlighted, adding that the coaching crew will do their best to correct them in the future.
"The first second quarter we actually did well, then in the third quarter, I think that's where we started having too many poor turnovers, Rivers Hoopers stepped on the pressure and things didn't go the way we planned," he stressed.
Coach Mensah further stated that despite the loss to Rivers Hoopers, he is proud of his side for giving Hoopers a tough time and for making it past last years mark.
"Though we lost, I feel great, I feel excited, I feel happy, but we have lost, I understand that knowing fully well that we played against the third best team in BAL and the defending champion, we did all we could but we didn't just match up to their ability. Last year we came fourth, this year we came second, it's a huge plus," he emphasized.
Coach Mensah, who has won five trophies this year is very confident that coming better prepared next year and pushing harder l, Hoops N' Read will he able to win the League and qualify for BAL, his dream for the club.
"To win the League and to qualify for BAL next year as the coach, is my dream, but to do that we need to keep grinding, taking each game step by step, because it's not going to be easy to be National champions," explained.
The coach also had some thoughtful words for Olumide Oyedeji, the CEO Olumide Oyedeji Youth Foundation, the sole sponsor and financier of the club stating that come next year the team will secure the ticket to BAL.
"He is a great man, full of vision he's looking into the future, I just hope he is going to get the trophy next year to crown his efforts based on how far he has gone, he is a man with bunch of experience, next year I can promise you that he is going to get the ticket to BAL," he concluded.
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