Coach Braimah Lawah is an experienced man and knows the basketball terrain in the West African country than probably any other and as he goes into the Thome Cabalan championship on Tuesday, a lot will be at stake for him and his charges.
He takes his CEPS side into the annual championship with so much hope following an incredible run in the Greater Accra series. He guided his side to chalk an implausible 10-consecutive title, making them the ‘kingpins’ in the top flight league in Ghana.
The former player and coach of Nigeria’s Kano Pillars know the pressure will be on his side to replicate their domestic form in the 10-day championship.
Lawah has been in the business too long a time to admit that there will be key moments in the game and would hope his charges who have had enormous experience over the past decade can hold their own against their foes.
Cape-coast based Hoops, Warriors and relegated Tema Youth are expected to give CEPS a run for their money following a close contest in the recently concluded series. Hoops lost the championship by a whisker- their only defeat coming against the eventual winners CEPS. They will be poised to avenge that defeat and should set for an entertaining battle.
The veteran coach admits the enormity of the task ahead and therefore implores the need for his players to be patient and keep their heads above water.
‘We know the other teams would come at us after what we did to them in the league but we’re not perturbed at all’ Lawah told basketballghana.com
‘It is important our players keep their cool and take the game one after the other. The pressure will be on us that we know but we will also show them what we’ve got.
The Thome Halim Cabalan tournament is played annually in remembrance of the man who donated the Lebanon house facility to be used for the development of sports especially basketball in the country.
By: Patrick Akoto
