Kola Shares Thoughts on Central Rec. League

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Kola (on left) goofs around a Titans teammate, Teddy

FINAL DAY; CENTRAL RECREATIONAL  LEAGUE

Another cool Saturday and there we are all set for the finals of the Central Recreational League at the International Central Gospel Church basketball court grounds. As usual jump ball is a bit late but the easy camaraderie that comes with every ballers gathering goes on. Pockets of conversations and players can be seen stretching and some shooting hoops just in wait for the games to start. Most notably is the Commissioner for the Central Recreational League and resident coach of the Central Courts Coach Olunloyo Feranmi looking quite the executive in khaki pants and a DC Dynamics polo shirt with what is missing only a jacket fit for the boardroom. Quite a refreshing sight from the always sporty casual dude players see around all the time.
 

The teams are all set. The Mambas, Tar Heels, Immanuel All Day, Rhinos and conspicuously lost is the veteran Titans. They were billed to play for fifth and sixth place with the Rhinos but they don’t show. This team has been inconsistent throughout the league obviously with members’ schedules not really in tandem with game times. But hey, this is recreational sport. It’s for healthy competition.
 

The games start and it is very evident that officiating on this final day has seemingly taken a nose dive with Referee Frank, who is not liked that much wherever he goes. This becomes obvious with some calls he makes during the games but it is commendable that he is strong-hearted and has the skin of a crocodile. He remains unfazed to criticism and whistled the game with an iron jaw, albeit players complaining. He must be commended for his taken a brave stand on this final day.
 

Vivid display of skills, tactics, strength and marksmanship characterized the final day. It was notable that indeed Ghana basketball has come a long way to remain hidden in the shadows and efforts have to be made to move it from a lesser known sport into the limelight. Thanks to events like the Sprite Ball, Storm Da Yard and now the Central Recreational League, it is the fervent hope of this writer that basketball will graduate from the obfuscating doldrums of obscurity into an ostentatious limelight of sports in Ghana. (ei brofo!) *chale kola relax*
 

At the end of it all, Team Mambas swept most of the awards. Prominent among excelling players was Mr Basketball, who took home about 5 awards including the lead scorer, slam dunk champion and the MVP. Obviously its no wonder he is called Mr Basketball. Congrats to him and Team Mambas for winning the first ever pioneering and maiden Central Recreational League.
 

I will like to sign off by saying kudos to the organizers for an event well planned. There must have been hitches here and there and it’s such a wonder that we didn’t even notice them because planning was detailed and thoroughly checked. I believe it all went well because the Central Courts basketball fraternity stick together and aim to change the face of basketball in Ghana bringing into it cooperation and promoting basketball as a team sport.
 

To all the players in the various teams I say Ayekoo, we are all winners because basketball is the ultimate winner. Without the players, this would have been impossible. Thanks for your cooperation and comportment throughout the maiden edition of the Central Recreational League.
Long Live Central Courts! Long Live Basketball! Long Live Ghana!
We Balling Till We Die!!
#Ballez4Life!!

 fell free to follow this writer on twitter @Nuttykola