Last Updated- Feb 8, 2012 15:13 - - 0 Comments

The masters of the game in Ghana- Mfantsipim

After clinching the 5th edition of the Sprite Ball Championship in January, huge questions

have emerged as which school can dethrone Mfantsipim as the Kings of the game in the West African country.

The impressive performance of the Cape-Coast based school cannot go unnoticed after they pierced through another championship with cheeky ease, disposing off the threat of many to their second title in succession at the national level.

The kind of talents that was unleashed at the Aviation Social Centre is beginning to raise doubts as to when the dust will be brought to dawn on them, call off their bluff and ditch them from the top.

With three regional and two national titles under their belt in four years, there is no question the’re in for business and will prove a difficult nut to crack in future tournaments.

Few of their players will not be available for selection in the next edition, but the array of stars at their disposal makes it impossible to think that they may probably rule the game in Ghana for a couple of years.

Power Forward Edem Dumenu, Paul Adomako, Morgan and Hagan have done their bit in the past and should bow out of the competition with open pride and chest high after basking five titles in four years. That incredible feat by all standard and one that deserves a presidential recognition .

Tried s many have tried in the past to dislodge the oldest senior high school in Ghana, but many times have they been unsuccessful.

Head of the school Emmanuel Adjah should take the credit for his personal role in the interest that has been shown by the burgeoning talents over the past years.

With the best player at the 2011 edition of the Milo Junior Ball, Hussain Mohammed Abubakar in their fold, the sky can only be the limit for ‘Botwe’

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No Love lost with Armed Forces- Annan

Armed Forces young enterprising coach Charles Annan insists his side have learnt their lessons and will make the best out of it during the next edition of the Sprite Ball Championship.

The Burma camp-based side were a pale shadow of themselves during the hugely attended 5th edition of the Sprite Ball competition in early January at the Aviation Social Centre.

For a side that won the heart of many crazy basketball fans with sublime performances to clinch the deal in 2009 at the regional and national level, it was hugely anticipated they were going to be one of the dark horses of the competition.

But at the end of the two-day competition, they failed to glitter as poor defensive work coupled with indecisiveness on the attack broke the heart of their teeming fans on their home court.

They managed to scale the hurdle to the knockout phase but defeat to Eastern regional champions Koforidua Secondary Technical School (KSTS) at the quarter-final stage meant their dream to reclaim the title was curtailed.

Annan was an influential part of the side that won the crown for the side in 2009 and after taking stock of what happened to his side, he admits he got some of tactics wrong.

“We played well at some point but some of the players are new and so were inexperienced on the day,” Annan said

“I must also say that there is more room for improvement for me as a coach as well and seriously we have learnt our lessons but hope to bounce back strongly the next time,”

“We have always played well at the tournament and a lot of the side have total respect for us. But we just didn’t get it right this year,”

“We need to go back to the drawing board and start preparing now for the next championship,”

He added: “This competition is growing stronger and bigger and the schools are improving year after year and so it’s imperative we put house in order before we can lay claim to the title again,”

The likes of James Aryee, Samuel Obuobi and Patrick Duncan have still got a lot to grind out in the future despite their huge potentials.

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2012 Milo Junior Ball set for big jump ball on Feb 24

The 2012 edition of the Milo Junior Ball will take centre stage from February 24-April 13

with schools keen to make a huge impression.

Over 20 schools from 3 regions will compete for major honours as they battle to ink their

hands on the giant trophy at stake.

Schools in the Greater Accra, Eastern and the Central region will slug it out during the regional

qualifiers with qualification to the grand finale top of the agenda.

Defending champions Air Force Basic school will need to dig deep to keep their trophy with the

capital-based Ridge Church School, Alpha Beta, Lincoln School, Base Workshop, Garrison,

Achimota, Cosmos and Calvary Basic School likely to give them a stiff oppositon.

Central regional champions Catholic Jubilee and their arch-rivals St Nicholas will battle for supremacy at the Hoops Care International Basketball court with the likes of Philip Quaque,

George Ekem Ferguson and Mfantsipim Junior High.

The journey will begin in the Eastern regional capital of Koforidua on February 24 at the

Koforidua Secondary Technical School (KSTS), with schools in the central region taking their

turn on 9th March before the 15 schools in the Greater Accra region wrap up the regional qualifiers

on the 17th of March.

The grand-finale is slated for 13 April at the El-Wak stadium.

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I can’t sleep over the lost chance- KSTS coach

Head coach of Koforidua Secondary Technical School, Emmanuel Larbi, insists he cannot get over his team’s inability to win the 5th edition of the Sprite Ball Championship.

KSTS managed to place third in the competition at the Aviation Social Centre in front of a packed crowd.

But in the end the Koforidua-based side failed to glitter at the semi-final stage where they lost the battle narrowly against highly -fancied Mfantsipim School in an enthralling 37-36.

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We’re still very strong – Sacred Heart boss

Head coach of Sacred Heart, Sam Kevi, insists his new crop of players can stand the test of time at the 5^th edition of the Sprite Ball Championship.

The capital-based school has emerged as the most successful side in the girls division following sublime performances in the hugely popular competition over the past five years.

They have clinched the crown in the Greater Accra region and gone ahead to win the national championship on two occasions.

But they will be without some of their influential players who helped them to put the name of their school on gold plate.

But they still remain one of the huge favourite to ink the title.

Captain Ruby Appiah will be unavailable while versatile Patience Kumah will also be missed after they both completed their pact with the school.

Their major threat will be Cape-Coast Aggrey Memorial whom they’ve beaten twice in the finals.

Ruby and Patience (in sprite t'shirt) will be solely missed

Pressure will surely be on Heart to win for an unprecedented third time on the road but boss Kevi insists they can grind out results.

Sacred Heart won the 2009 and 2010 finals at El-Wak

“We know the pressure will be on us and every school will be targeting to beat us, but I tell you one thing: we’re ready for them,” Kevi told BASKETBALLghana.com

“We still have an abundance of talents at our disposal and despite the fact three or four have left, we’re still very strong,”

“I have not built the team around one person, it’s a group effort and we work for each other,”

“Our training regime is going as planned and I believe we can write our name in the history books once again,”

The fifth edition of the famous Sprite Ball Championship takes place between the 4-5 January, 2012 at the El-Wak and Aviation Social Centre respectively which is expected to attract over seven thousand people.

Top dignitaries including sector Minister Kofi Humado, officials of the National Sports Council, members of the Ghana Basketball Association, Representatives of headline sponsors, Sprite and a host of other important personalities are expected to grace the occasion.

The 5th edition of the Sprite Ball Anniversay is brought to you by Sprite – Your thirst with support from Indomie Instant Noodles and powered by Rite Multimedia-leaders in basketball development and promotion in Ghana.

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Azonto craze highlights 2011 Sprite Ball Jam

Fans were treated to a day filled with fun and excitements during the 2011 Sprite Ball Jam at the Aviation Social Centre on Friday.

Some of the finest artistes in the country thrilled the crowd with music and dance that got patrons on their feet- celebrating the competition that has provided the launch pad for players in the West African country over the past five years.

Asaase Aban, Echo, D-Flex Yahoo Boys, Rasbobo, Klala, 2 Ras baby amongst others took turns to entertain the enthusiastic crowd.

The ‘Azonto’ dance, the biggest phenomenon in Ghana in 2011, continues to buzz across the country and the students demonstrated that the craze is spreading like wild fire.

The competition in the Azonto phenomenon was amazing and keenly contested for as contestants exhibited various skills on the dance floor with fans cheering on their respective schools.

It was also an exciting specter as students from various schools spread across the country interacted with each other as they await the main event on the 4-5 January, 2012 at the El-Wak stadium and the Aviations Social Centre respectively.

The day also witnessed some breath-taking display on the 1 on 1, 3 on 3 and free style rap.

In the exhibition game itself, Sacred Heart defeated Achimota Senior High and Akosombo International School to send a strong signal that they will be one of the huge favourite to win their third title in three years.

In the boy’s division, Koforidua Secondary and Technical School (KSTS), Aquinas and Armed Forces tested their resolve against each other head of the main event and will admits that their meeting was a good exercise for them.

There were also Holy Trinity Cathedral (Hotcass) and Achimota-based St John’s Grammar who also exhibited some amazing fine form on the day.

With the jams done and dusted, the focus has swiftly been turned to the fifth anniversary of the competition which has proven to be the catalyst for talents to be unearthed.

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NLA Adenta court officially unveilled on Wednesday

The official opening of the National Lottery Authority Adenta basketball court was unveiled on Wednesday amidst pump and pageantry.

The facility which was built by the national revenue generation entity was officially handed over to Rite Multimedia as new managers of the court which will serve as a training ground for players in and around the Adenta vicinity.

The Accra-based event company which has carved a niche for itself as the pillar of development and promotion of basketball in the West African country were to put the facility into proper use that will benefit the major actors of the game.

In his keynote address, the Director, Special Projects of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), George Gyamfi-Osew underscored the reasons assigned in given the mantra to Rite Multimedia to supervise the usage of the court and its related facilities.

He said their major role in resurrecting the interest of the sport among the youth especially over the past five years in the country won them the right for an oversight responsibility.

“Ever since Rite Multimedia came into the scene, there have been massive interest of the game among the youth in the country and we believe they’re better placed to manage the facility,” Gyamfi-Osew said.

“Our motto is development through games and that’s why we built this facility and gave the right to the company due to their track record,”

“We believe they will ensure that the facility is put to good use for the betterment of the people of Adenta and its environs,”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Authority, Worlanyo Agrah who represented the Minister of Youth and Sports thanked NLA for the gesture and promised his outfit’s support in upholding the confidence reposed in the new owners.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank NLA for putting up such a nice facility which will go a long way to shape the dream and aspiration of many talents we have here and elsewhere,”

“Our outfit is ready to offer any kind of support to ensure the facility remains in good shape and does not deteriorate in any way so that everybody will benefit from it,”

“I would like to take this opportunity to urge the staff of NLA to also take advantage of the facility by practicing since it will help improve their health status,”

Other personalities that graced the occasion at the SNIT flat included the Municipal Chief Executive of Adenta, Hon Nubly Kakra Vanlare and the Assembly Man of the area, Agyeman Duah and some executive members of the Ghana Basketball Association.

Adenta X1 beat CYO 33-28 in an exhibition game to entertain the crowd.

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Fans primed for Sprite Ball Jam

Enthusiasm among fans has reached a crescendo as they gear up for the 5^th anniversary of the prestigious Sprite Ball Championship in January.

Over ten thousand students are expected to throng the Aviation Social Centre on December 23, 2012 to celebrate the five years of an exciting competition that has brought the best out of players who are at the senior high level.

BASKETBALLghana.com checks at the various schools indicate one thing: Students are keen to be part of the celebration and can’t wait for the D-day.

Our monitoring team that toured schools in the Central, Western, Ashanti, Eastern and Volta regions say the fever has caught on like wild fire among fans as they get ready to socialize and fraternize ahead of the main event on January 4-5, 2012 at the El-Wak and Aviation Social Centre respectively.

Activities lined up to size up the occasion include 1 on 1, 3 on 3, Free Style Rap, Azonto competition and guest performances from some of the finest artistes in the country to shore up an incredible five enduring years of tapping talents.

Chief coordinator for the championship Lawrence Nartey was thrilled with the high level of interest when he toured some of the schools.

He told BASKETBALLghana.com:“The interests from these young lads are amazing and I can only foresee a great day for us on December 23”

“It’s going to be a fun-filled day and we hope to see all of them there. Indeed even before we got into the various schools with some of my colleague, the fever was already there:

“They’re keen on the games and surely we expect to have a full house as usual at Aviation”

Some of the schools they toured include Wesley Girls, G.S.T.S, Adisadel College, St Augustines, Mfantsipim, Aggrey Memorial, Pope Johns, and K.S.T.S among others.

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Adenta basketball court – A haven to uplift development of the game and mankind

Basketball players and fans in and around Adenta are bracing themselves for an official earth-shattering opening of their own facility courtesy the Ghana National Lottery Authority.

The avant-garde Adenta basketball court will officially be unveiled on December 21 at a colourful press conference at the the SSNIT flat.

Top dignitaries including officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, echelon of the Ghana Basketball Association, pressmen and crazy players, both old and new and fans will converge and be part of the historic handing over ceremony to Rite Multimedia.

The facility is strategically positioned at a location which has produced lots of talents in the West African country and continues to churn out players who continue to thrill fans in the Greater Accra Basketball League.

The court will provide a source of relieve for players who have craved for such a facility to enhance their training regime and build a strong team that will be capable of fighting for honours in the inaugural Under-18 Community basketball dubbed ‘Community Dunks’

Aside from being a great spectator sport, the game is also a great way to get in shape, learn teamwork, and to attain self discipline. Being that it’s not a frightfully difficult game to play, and that it’s a lot of fun, it is often a popular choice among those looking for a new sport to play.

Basketball develops physical fitness, as many sports do, but the intense, fast-paced action of a typical basketball game simultaneously develops speed, hand-eye coordination and cardiovascular endurance in a way that other sports might not and that is where the continual usage of the court will help resident build their physical capacity as shooting, defending and passing develop upper-body fitness.

The facility will be useful to not only players who want to make a career avenue out of it. According to a research by the American Council on Exercise, playing the game control the weight of individuals, for instance, a person who weighs 170 lbs, burns 617 calories playing a basketball game for an hour.

Even if you don’t participate in a full-court basketball game, you still can burn significant calories playing basketball. For example, a 170-lb. person who practices shooting the ball for an hour burns 347 calories and that clearly will be one of the physical attribute those persons within the vicinity and its environs would derive from using the facility.

For the youth in the area, the court would be used to help them imitate their heroes. For older people, playing the game regularly would offer a way to engage in fun competition while getting regular, rigorous exercise.

The facility will also provide constant social interaction which benefits young and old players alike.

If you are interested in getting started in basketball, or you are just looking to give your game a little lift, then the new court at the residential Adenta surburb of Accra will provide the perfect tonic to try your hands.

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Adenta basketball court to be unveiled on December 21

A ground breaking ceremony to officially open the Adenta Basketball court will take place on December 21, 2011.

The facility which was built by the country’s National Lottery Authority (NLA) is to be handed over to Rite Multimedia as managers of the ultra modern facility located within the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) flat.

The shouts of ‘play ball’ accompanied by the rhythmic thumping of basketball and gleeful ‘noises’ of crazy players will be re-ignited in the community and its environs as the facility will be useful to nearby communities as well.

The Accra-based private organization has been given the mandate to manage the facility owned by the government revenue generation entity due to its track record as they earn another landmark victory.

Rite Multimedia, leaders in basketball development and promotion in Ghana, has thus become the major influential opinion as far as anything related to the game is concerned and will be the idea organization to make good use of the facility.

The award of the right to the company to supervise the court underlines one thing. The fact that NLA have imposed great confidence in the ability of the company to put the facility in good shape and make good use of it for the betterment of residents and their neighbours.

It will be recalled that the company pulled another masterstroke as it was awarded the right to organize the 2010 GUSA games to its plenitude of previous successes and also to add a professional touch to the 20^th edition of the competition.

The one-day event will attract quite a number of huge dignitaries including Minister of Youth and Sports Clement Kofi Humado, the top brass of the Ghana Basketball Association, journalists and the members of the basketball fraternity.

An exhibition game between Adenta X1 and a select All-Star team will be played to officially outdoor the facility.