WHAT WENT WRONG FOR NKWANTA GIRLS?

Nkwanta girls’ dominance is finally halted, but what really went wrong for the two –time champions as they failed to sparkle in the 2010 Volta regional Sprite Ball Championship?

This is one mind boggling question which continues to linger on the mind of many crazy loving basketball fans.  I’m obviously included.

The 2008 and 2009 Champions were highly feeble in the attention – grabbing championship which saw the best out of burgeoning talents at the Mawuko Girls basketball court on Saturday.

Before the defending champions could think three-peak, they knew they had to get out of the championship on a clean slate.

Piece of Cake one will say?  Not so fast.

Their opening day fixture against Ketasco girls was so clear that their form had dipped greatly –quite shockingly from the one we’ve seen them exhibit for the past two years. Their 11-9 success over their opponent made me thinker and adjust my position on their ability to win the championship for the third time in a row.

In the past Nkwasec have been superior on all fronts of the game- offensive, defensive, fast breaks and will always grab the most percentage shot in the game but for the first time in the competition’s history in the Volta region, they looked out of sort as they struggled to find their feet. This was the same side that produced an unrivalled display to dismantle six schools on their way to be crowned champions for the second successive time in 2009.

The likes of Bueman, Mawuli, Keta and Kadjebi-Asato have all tasted the venom of Nkwasec and many had thought it was going to be business- as- usual in 2010.  

But in the end it was how sweet the revenge was for Kadjebi-Asato who were annihilated at the semi-final stage by defending champions last year. They clearly have done their home work well and on a day that team spirit and chemistry was working for them, they managed to record a narrow but famous 5-4 victory over Nkwasec to send their teeming fans into jubilation mood.

Nkwasec played as if there was nothing at stake as they continued to showcase disjointed performance as the competition began to scratch them on the face.  

I’m finding it difficult to place an eyelid on what might have accounted for such a disappointing performance from the highly respected school. They were slow on their build up, lack confidence or in plain language, they didn’t just look like a team ready to defend and guard with jealousy a title they’ve won for the past two years.  

And I should say that they’ve learnt it the hard way as they miss out on the grand finale in Accra for the first time. May be they’re paying for been self-satisfied and I’m pretty sure they will rue the missed opportunity.

Kadjebi-Asato in particular have distinguished themselves pretty –well and even though they’re yet to win the title in the Volta region, the hold the best record as the only female school in the region  to have competed in the grand finale for the third time running.

In due course we’ll look at the prospect of Coach G.A.A Akahoho’s side as they launch another blistering title challenge in two months time.

But for now, I say better luck next time to Nkwasec. They need to go back to the drawing board and show us once again that they have the character and attitude to bounce back; and in style too.

Arrest my case!!

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