Coach Ogoh Odaudu of Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, expressed concern about developments at the basketball club, saying that the non-payment of their remunerations for 2012 was heart breaking.
Odaudu, whose team won the 2012 Nigeria Basketball Premiere League for the second year running, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview in Lagos. The coach noted that the non-payment of the remunerations for the team last year was a big threat to its future.
He said, “We are worried about the present development for players and club officials not to be able to receive their allowances. This does not speak well for the future of the club. We have been told to be patient by the Rivers State Government, but how long will this be.
“We are talking about salaries for the season that ended last July. At present, we do not have a formal assurance of going into the 2013 season. We hope the authorities at the state level will call us for a round table discussion where every other issue will be settled.’’
Last season, the club defeated Kano Pillars 65-52 to retain the trophy for the DStv-sponsored league. However, the Port
Harcourt team could not go for the African Champions Cup due to non release of funds by the state government.
“We could not be at the African Cup because there was no cash. It will be a sad moment for me and my team, having worked so hard to retain the national title in 2012 and would not be able to defend it this year. I hope such would not be our fate come 2013 season.”
Source: punchng.com
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