The Nigeria Basketball Federation has congratulated the duo of Coach Ogoh Odaudu of and Abdulrahman Mohammed both of Rivers Hoppers Basketball club, who are 2 of the 25 African coaches selected to participate in the NBA Summer league, from 12-22 July 2024, in Las Vegas, USA.
It is important to note that this is happening for the first time in the history of basketball in Nigeria.
Odaudu, who was assisted by Mohammed, led the Rivers Hoppers to a podium finish at the recently held BAL Championship and was voted as the BAL Coach Of The Season.
In the congratulatory message, the Nigeria Basketball Federation led by its President, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, while applauding Odaudu and Mohammed on their feats, remarked that the selection of the two Nigerian top coaches, is a testament to the NBBF’s series of developmenal plans over the years, and aimed at encouraging Nigerian coaches and technical officials to acquire and improve on their knowledge of the game of basketball, through deliberate selections by the federation to handle the national teams at different times.
NBBF noted that this development portends bigger opportunities for the growth and development of the game, particularly, the local basketball community, as both coaches are expected to return to Nigeria, with better technical knowledge of the game, which they are also expected to share with other coaches back home for the benefits of the local game.
The NBBF implored the two coaches to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria while in the USA.
Meanwhile, Odaudu is assigned to coach with Cleveland Cavaliers and Mohammed will be with the Utah Jazz, both top NBA clubs in the United States of America.