Iconic Tema Youth figure: Emmanuel Quaye (rubberman)

An excellent tactician, coach Emmanuel Quaye has the Tema Youth programme on the uptick.

The ambitious trainer has gained palpable momentum in recruiting and looks to have vastly improved as the years soar on.

The most impressive thing about the Tema Youth coach is his demeanour. No matter how big the moment, he is always the same and never appears to be worried or concerned.

Hate or like him but he remains one of the most respected coaches in Ghana with his youth policy of unearthing mushrooming talents.

We take a quick peek at the man Emmanuel Quaye, nicknamed, rubberman.

Coach Emmanuel Quaye started playing basketball for St. Joseph Catholic Youth Organization basketball programme coached by veteran Mathias Ocloo where he featured for both the junior and senior teams.

He also a former player of  Koforidua Secondary Technical Senior High School an shone during his playing days.

Currently employed with the Customs Exercise and Preventive Service (GRA Division), he once played for CEPS men’s basketball team and was the assistant captain in the 90’s.

Quaye also played for the Ghana National Basketball men’s team from 1991-1999 and was the team captain in 1999.

His impressive outlay saw him being crowned the best player in the West Africa country by the Sport’s Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG)  in 1994.

The youngsters have heard stories of his finesse at shooting the ball and ability to turn the game around with his scoring during that time, at least for those who never saw him play.

He has a diploma in coaching from the University of Education, Winneba, and is pursuing a BSc. in Coaching Basketball at present. Due to his leadership qualities, he is a hypers department counselor and Simpa Hall Elder at the university.

He was also the general captain for the University of Education’s athletes during the 2011/12 Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) games, and a student/assistant coach for the university’s women and men basketball teams.

He has been given an award for his outstanding contribution to sports (Basketball) at the university for which he clearly deserves, and already has a Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) coaching course for module I and II certificate.

But the greatest of his accomplishments is running the Tema Youth basketball Programme, and the caliber of players he has developed and is still working on.

In the words of John C. Maxwell, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”, and that is exactly what Emmanuel Quaye has done. This is why he is the one our boys prefer to play for, and learn from.

They’d rather practice on holidays than hang out with friends, show up for practice to learn ball handling and player movements as opposed to playing pick up games.

They prefer to run continuously for hours to build endurance, flexibility, coordination, speed and strength  and above all play for a team with the name TEMA on the jersey.

That is why they are here, and have played in back- to- back Thome Cabalan Championship finals.

All of which has been possible due to Coach Quaye’s relentless effort to develop the game of basketball in Tema and the country as a whole.