By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Benin City, Edo State
Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), Yusuf Alli on Thursday heaped praises on Hoops N’ Read Basketball Club as they ‘handcuffed’ Police Baton on the court of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital in the ongoing Nigeria Basketball Federation Men’s league.
Mr. Alli commended Hoops N’ Read for their connection and teamwork displayed on and off the court, which gave them a sweet 77-52 points win over Police Baton.
“I see one thing here, teamwork, you guys are together, nobody can beat you guys, with this attitude that is very good you will go places, it’s a quality that is lacking in the country, that is vary rare, with team members not knowing themselves,” he said.
Hoops N’ Read made light walk out of the Police Baton who had no grip on the match, right from the first quarter.
They toppled Police Baton 23-12 in the first quarter, slamming and dunking with ease as the Cops fell apart.
Hoops N’ Read with Bolaji Emilagba as the lead man in the second quarter piled on the pressure, stealing, dribbling and intercepting passes with series of points outside the paint, turning Police Baton into school boys.
With 20 minutes on the clock the Police basketball addicts looked at level the scores, hitting the third quarter with more firepower to win the quarter.
Hoops N’ Read fell back giving space for Police Baton to dominate the quarter with 2 points despite having a lower possession.
It was a sloppy quarter, but Hoops N’ Read maintained the lead with Police Baton trailing 55-35
Hoops N’ Read came back in the fourth and final quarter with renewed zeal and determination, following a brief pep-talk from former NBA star and Ambassador, Olumide Oyedeji.
Hoops N’ Read bubbling with energy and togetherness crippled Police Baton pounding, pressing and pushing Police Baton till breaking point to win the tie 77-52.
Mr. Yusuf Alli hailed the President and owner of Hoops N’ Read basketball club, Mr. Olumide Oyedeji, CEO Olumide Oyedeji, for training and taking the club to such heights, both financially and motivationally.
He stated that the NBA star who is the President of Nigeria Olympian Association, (NOA) is one of his best friends because of the positive spirit which radiates from him everywhere he goes.
“You have a great friend and president, Olumide Oyedeji, he has been playing basketball since I’ve known him many years ago, and everything about him is positive,” he stated.
He tipped the NOA president to be the next president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, (NOC), emphasizing that he has everything it takes to perform exceptionally.
“Because of his productivity in developing sports in Nigeria, which is clear for all to see, when I walked in here I said ‘future NOC president’, right now he’s the NOA president, but he will soon become the NOC president, in Nigeria there is no way they’ll do any meeting that he will not be involved, any request from the government will have to go through him and yet with his height he is so humble,” he added.
He stressed that his humility is worth emulating.
“He is so humble, we talk, we laugh and say jokes with him and his friends, he is so humble you won’t know he’s the NOA president, that’s why we visit him every time, call him on the phone if he is not able to answer instantly he will return the call, both the new and old ones in the team relate with him, he is a person you can always call whenever you need help,” he concluded.