President of Dodan Warriors Basketball Club, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd) has praised his players for their spirited efforts which saw them place fifth at the end of the just concluded DStv Premier Basketball League (PBL).
The retired but not tired Army officer was however quick to add that the team will go back to the drawing board to review the team’s performance at the just concluded season.
He said: “So far, so good for us, though, we failed to get the big one, I mean the trophy but the players did not really disappoint us.
“At the end of the season last year, we finished third and we had wanted to end the just concluded season as champions or second place but just unable to.
“To end the season as the best fifth team is by no means a small achievement but then there is room for improvement. The players put in their best, did everything best possible to win the trophy but then, there best was not enough.
“We will go back to the drawing board to see where there were loopholes and find means of how to block those loopholes.
“We might also inject some new blood in terms of players to the team before the next season if need be as well as lay off some that did not leave up to expectations, but by and large, the players did their best and we must appreciate them for their efforts.
In his review of the season, Secretary of the club, Joe Apu collaborated the views of his president in praising the efforts of the players but blamed poor officiating for the team’s inability to win the trophy.
He said: “The season has come and gone and we thank God for where we found ourselves. It is not in our character to give reasons for our failure or apportion blames for our inability to win matches but then we cannot hide from the fact that poor officiating really affected our players.
“For instance our match against Kano Pillars in the Play-offs was a terrible one in terms of officiating. It was like the officials were out to frustrate our players and they achieved their aims.
“There were other matches like that poor officiating affected our players and we think if the officiating had been fair enough, perhaps we would have won the trophy or end up as first runner up.
However, we appreciate the players for their efforts and for making us proud because fans especially good basketball lovers and followers saw the ability of our players and the stuff they were made of and they really applauds them when playing.
“We will continue to nurture good, young and talented players for the development of the game of basketball in the country,’ he concluded.
