Rivers Hoopers BC of Port Harcourt captain, Victor Anthony Koko has tasked officials of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to ensure they pay up all camp allowances of players in the men’s national team to avoid them capitulating at the ongoing AfroBasket championship.
Sports247 reports that Koko was excited with the 77-59 victory D’Tigers got on Wednesday over Madagascar in their first group game of this year’s championship, but quickly warned that money squabbles could distract the squad.
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Koko affirmed, “Motivation is key. But, first of all, let me give kudos to D’Tigers’ team for winning their first game against Madagascar. It was a good one, and I give them kudos. I also advise that they should keep the momentum up.”
Koko, though, pointed out that the issue of continuity is not up to the players and their coach alone, then stressed that the basketball governing body in Nigeria has a huge role to play in ensuring that morale stays high in D’Tigers’ camp.
The outspoken star from Garden City averred, “The federation should try to as much as possible make everything perfect for the players, because the only reason those boys may not keep their momentum is when they start having issues with their allowances.
“That’s when they will start having problems in keeping their focus. But, if everything is in place, I don’t think there’s anything that will stop them this time.”
He enthused ahead of Friday’s second group game versus Tunisia that D’Tigers could go all the way to their second ever AfroBasket title, especially if the federal government extends to them the same kind of support that was given the female squad, D’Tigress.
Koko supplicated with anticipation, “I just pray that the federation and Nigerians at large will support them.
“Since the government did something wonderful for the females, let them also do something for the males. Yeah, let them also do it for D’Tigers.”
