Sprite Ball 2013: Mfantsipim seeks third milestone

After months of anticipation and long-wait, the date for the famous Sprite Basketball Championship has been confirmed with participating schools eagerly awaiting their turn.

Twenty-four schools drawn from six regions have been settled on and the big talk has already begun.

BASKETBALLghana.com takes a closer look at the prospect of the teams that will represent their schools by chronicling their past and present form coupled with what one could possibly expects from them.

Mfantsipim

The oldest school in Ghana is without a shred of doubt the most successful team in the prestigious competition.

Mfantsipim have dominated the competition in the Central Region for the past three years where they have remained impregnable in the coastal region of the West African country.

Between 2008-2011, ‘Kwabotwe’ as they are affectionately called have remained unyielding and left their opponent in the region like main rivals Adisadel College and St Augustines’ to play catch-ups.

Their performances has caught on so well that they have left their sworn rivals to lick their wounds as they watch in agony with Mfantsipim lifting the trophy year after year.

There have not been any ifs, buts or maybes as far as Mfantsipim is concerned.

They always come into the frame with the mentality of winning and that positive traits have proved fruitful over the years.

After they clinched the 5th edition of the Sprite Ball Championship in January last year, huge questions have emerged as to which school can dethrone Mfantsipim as the Kings of the game in the West African country.

The impressive performance of the Cape-Coast based school could not go unnoticed after they pierced through another championship with cheeky ease, disposing off the threat of many to their second title in succession at the national level.

The kind of talents that was unleashed at the Aviation Social Centre is beginning to raise doubts as to when the dust will be brought to dawn on them, call off their bluff and ditch them from the top.

With three regional and two national titles under their belt in four years, there is no question they are in for business and will prove a difficult nut to crack in future tournaments.

Few of their players will not be available for selection in the up-coming edition, but the array of stars at their disposal makes it impossible to think that they may probably  rule the game in Ghana for a couple of years.

Power Forward Edem Dumenu, Paul Adomako, Morgan and Hagan have done their bit in the past and should bow out of the competition with open pride and chest high after basking five titles in four years.

That incredible feat by all standard and one that deserves a presidential recognition .

Tried as many have tried in the past to dislodge the oldest senior high school in Ghana, but many times have they been unsuccessful.

Head of the school, K.M  Adjah should take the credit for his personal role in the interest that has been shown by the burgeoning talents over the past years.

With the best player at the 2011 edition of the Milo Junior Ball, Hussain Mohammed Abubakar in their fold, the sky can only be the limit for ‘Botwe’.

Mfantsipim are aware the road to winning a third successive title in the national finals won’t be chicken feed.

They will face stiff competition from Keta Senior High, Accra Academy, Koforidua Secondary Technical School (KSTS) and Opoku Ware amongst others.

The 2013 edition of the competition will be held on January 4-5 at the El-Wak sports stadium and the Aviation Social Centre in Accra.