By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@ YawMintYM on Twitter
Several personalities in Ghana’s basketball fraternity have paid tributes to Coach, Administrator and Referee Matthias Ocloo following his death on Thursday February 16 at his residence in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
Ocloo served in many departments during his extensive career including coaching stops at the University of Ghana, St. Mary’s Senior High School and Ghana’s National Male and Female Basketball Teams. He was 71.
University of Ghana Sports Official Henry Sackey said, “His contribution to the development of basketball is immeasurable. The number of girls he developed from St. Mary’s was overwhelming. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
Ocloo was instrumental in creating the Accra Basketball League in his time and League official Kofi Amanyo paid his condolence by saying, “A great Tree has fallen”.
Ghana Basketball Association General Secretary Rafiq Arthur stated, “What he’s done women basketball, a lot of coaches aspire to… instilled a mean sense of discipline in his players. From the respect he was shown as the Acting Chairman of the Referee’s Association, you could tell he was a great referee in his time. Big loss to the basketball family”.
