The Southland Basketball Association earlier this week confirmed it would enter a team in the 2010 National Basketball League after it secured the sponsorship it needed to proceed.
It is the first time Southland has entered a team in the league and the team will face a step learning curve, Rogers warned.
But he was pleased for the fledgling franchise.
"I think it is great for the South Island and our region," Rogers said.
"We've now got two teams representing the bottom of the South Island in the national league."
The teams will be competing for some of the same players but Rogers said there was nothing new in that.
The player market had always been fiercely competitive, he said.
"It is a league-wide issue where the players are sought after by all the franchises and part of having a franchise is doing what you can do to secure the talent."
The Nuggets pulled out of the NBL this season after 18 years in the league, citing a lack of financial support.
But the franchise has regrouped and, with the help of major-naming sponsor OceaniaGold, the Nuggets will return to the court in 2010.
Finding the financial backing to support an NBL campaign is an ongoing challenge and Basketball Otago has approached Southland Basketball Association in the past about the prospect of fielding a combined team, similar to the Steel ANZ Championship team which is a combined Otago-Southland team.
But Southland was always determined to press on under its own steam.
A bid to enter the league in 2002 fell over due to a lack of financial support but the community has rallied behind the idea this time.
The Southern Institute of Technology will be the naming-rights sponsor while the Invercargill Licensing Trust has fronted up with $155,000, $45,000 of which has been targeted to enhance the basketball coaching programme in the city's schools.
The Community Trust of Southland has also offered financial support.
However, Southland Basketball Association president Jill Bolger said the association would need to secure further funding.
"We desperately need more sponsors to come on board to ensure we meet our commitments," she said.
Bolger said the franchise would be competitive and expected to make some announcements regarding players over the next few weeks.
"Our main focus has to be securing the rest of the sponsorship, but we're ecstatic that the team will be on the court next year."
The Sharks' campaign is scheduled to tip off on March 6 with a home match against the Hawkes Bay Hawks.
The Sharks' first clash against the Nuggets is planned for Dunedin on April 17 with the return match a week later in Invercargill.
The draw is not yet confirmed and may be subject to some changes.
Southland and former Otago Breakers coach Richard Dickel will coach the Sharks.
NBL draft draw
Nuggets 2010 campaign
HOME
March 13: Canterbury
April 3:Taranaki (Timaru)
April 10: Nelson
April 17: Southland
May 1: Auckland
May 7: Wellington
May 15: Waikato
May 22: Palmerston North
May 29: North Harbour
June 12: Hawkes Bay
AWAY
March 4: Auckland
March 6: North Harbour
March 19: NelsonMarch 26: Waikato
March 27: TaranakiApril 24: Southland
May 27: Hawkes Bay (TV) (subject to change)
June 3: Palmerston North
June 4: Wellington
June 10: Canterbury
