Showing posts with label GABL. Show all posts

Baafi: Forget About Basketball Growth in Ghana Without a Gym

A few days after rains disrupted games of the GABL, the league's chairman is featured in a Daily Graphic article in which he expressed strong sentiments about what he believes is needed for basketball to develop in Ghana. The story by Kwame Larweh read:

''The chairman of the Greater Accra Basketball Association, Benjamin Baafi, has observed that unless a basketball gymnasium was built in the country, stakeholders, including the state and fans, must forget about the growth and development of the game in the country.


According to him, for an indoor sport like basketball with its attendant mass popularity it currently enjoys in the country, the non-existence of any and state-constructed indoor or outdoor infrastructure clearly inhibits its future prospects.

''Almost all West African nations that surround us have indoor basketball courts that prevent players and fans from adverse weather but Ghana is yet to boast even a single outdoor basketball court'' Baafi told the Daily Graphic in an interview.

He implored the sector minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, to, as a matter of urgency, ensure the construction of a state-of-the-art basketball facility in the Greater Accra Region to augment the various successes chalked up by the sport at its rudimentary stages in the country.

''Our biggest problem is the facilities on which we play, as I speak to you we have none,'' Mr. Baafi stressed this to the paper. He continued that ''all over the West African sub-region, ,there basketball arenas and gymnasiums''

Meanwhile basketball club Braves of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs Division, would participate in this year's Africa Club Championship slated for Burkina Faso in September.
The club, which won the Greater Accra Basketball League for the 14th year in succession, will begin camping in August in preparation for the tournament.

Basketball has been labelled as one of the so-called lesser-known sports despite the tremendous patronage it enjoys in the country. Despite the lack of infrastructure and equipment to facilitate the play of the game, the greater Accra League is still being organized and over 20 clubs represent in the first and second divisions, as well as the women's division.''
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Of Rains and the Accra Basketball League

Three games were scheduled to be played last Saturday in the Accra league. Players, game officials and a few fans started gathering for the games. The women's game between Braves and Reformers started amidst cloudy skies and occasional droplets of rain. Almost everybody present hoped and prayed it would not rain. The game went to almost half way through the second quarter when the rains let loose and the game had to be ended.
Wet Lebanon House court on Saturday
Anyone who has followed the Accra league for even a few years can testify to the fact rains plague the league's schedule every year. This causes an overly unnecessary extension of the span of the league which is an inconvenience for players most of whom who are students and/or workers.

While it rained coaches, officials, players and a few fans took shelter in the porches of the office building of the Lebanon Society in the compound. Many conversations went on about all the inefficiencies and lack of development of the league and basketball in Ghana as a whole. I have heard and taken part in many a discussion on the same topic that sometimes I think we all talk too  much; almost everybody present had a complain or solution to our many problems.

 However, with a careful look at the particular situation, one realizes that the problem is one that can be solved if the league is scheduled properly. To schedule an outdoor league for the rainy season is to only plan for one's own doom. There will be many days without rain but the very few ones that will be disrupted by rain, like this past Saturday proves costly for all of us involved especially players; most of whom do not benefit financially for being a part of this league.
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Is Osofo Gone For Good?

Osofo in cape Coast Hoops days



Yesterday's win against Holy Family could probably be his last game in the Accra league. Late yesternight, Police forward Fred Yeboah (Osofo) dropped a status on his facebook that went like....
''Guys, today I announce my retirement from the Accra Basketball League,it's been great playing with all the players I came across...Just returning to full time in Ministry''.

The Accra league vet who has played for the now defunct Tudu Wizards and Hoops, Yotives and the University of Education, Winneba(as a student) was a pivotal member of every team he has been on. His peculiar skill set, leadership, passion and understanding of the game earned him a lot playing time while playing for Cape Coast Hoops in the past two seasons.

On April 13th, he grabbed a league high 21 rebounds against Warriors until Kwame Boamah shattered the record with his 30 a couple of weeks later. His stat line currently reads:
PPG
6.5		 RPG
8.4		 APG
3.1		 FG%
31.6

In a short phone chat with him, he pointed out the need to pay more attention to his ministry at his church, some problems with a few of his current teammates during games and the lack of remuneration from the team and the league as the main issues that influenced his decision. ''The stress of having to go through practice five times a week plus all the other responsibilities I have plus not getting enough time on court... I had to make a choice'', he added.
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Q+A with Nathaniel Attoh

The Holy Family rookie talks about himself, his team and his Accra Basketball League experience.




RGH: Straight to the point, tell us a bit about yourself.
NA: Only son of parents, last of two children,graduate from the Regional Maritime University in electrical engineering, assistant coach of HCH and a combo guard in his rookie season for Holy Family. Started playing basketball in JHS 2, I've loved it since the first time I touched a ball and spend most of my afternoons playing.
RGH: So where do you usually play; any place you like to call your home court?
NA: yea, the Korle Bu medical school court.
RGH: How would you describe your game?
NA: A little of D-Wade since I like to take the lane to the basket and yet still have a good mid-range shot. A bit of Jordan with my leap and suspension and a bit of Westbrook  too with my quick pace on the fast-break.
RGH: Your team looks good on paper, with Djimate at the guard(one of the best in the league, if not the best) and a decently skilled big in Pappoe. But you've won only two games, what would you say is the cause or the reason for this record?
NA: Well sincerely I think its synergy, we haven't played as a unit in a while. Guys are all over the place; schooling and working and that’s taking a toll on our performance as a whole. Just like Miami, two people can't do it alone. We need to move and work as a unit then we'll become a formidable force to reckon with.
RGH: What are your expectations as a player for the second half of the season?
NA: Well, I need to step up my game,sometimes I am caught watching the stars on my team put on a show. But basically the first round was just me catching a glimpse of the league and I think I've seen enough and now know how to adjust  in most situations.
RGH: Do you think your team will perform any better in the second half of the season?
NA: Yes! I know we will perform better.
RGH: Any reasons you think you guys will be better in the second half?
NA: Yea, we've had enough time to reflect on the past games and we're taking advantage of the mid season break to put a few measures in place.
RGH: Like practicing together?
NA: Yes! but individually we've built the mindset  of working harder whether at a team practice or at personal workouts. We lost some of our games based on stamina, guys need to workout a bit more to stay fitter for the games.
RGH: Who's your favorite teammate? why?
NA: Tough question. Holy Family, just like its name has been the best family I've found myself since I started playing ball. There's this love that flows right down from coach through captain and to all other teammates. Though we are bound to have differences as humans, I think my favorite teammate will be everybody on the team.
RGH: You know we can't do without talking about your coach, this being your first season, how have you managed to cope with the pressure from one of the most animated coaches in Ghana?
NA: Haha! I like this question, animated,well my coach though people find it hard to believe is one if not the best in the league. His strong desire to win is what drives us each time we step on the court. He's very defensive minded and a disciplinarian. Yet, you wont have a problem with him if you are humble. He sees something  special in every player and that's one thing most coaches in Ghana do not have. I must confess though that it was a bit rough in the beginning but ever since I availed myself for correction we've gotten along really well
RGH: So far, which match would you say was the toughest?
NA: Braves!
RGH: Now, about the Accra league; what do you think about it? and why did you  decide to play in the league?
NA: Accra league hmm, certainly not the best and a lot can be done to improve it but the reason why I play is because I just love the game!
RGH: Thanks a lot for your time.
NA: You always welcome, one love!
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