It will be business as usual for teams in this year’s Greater Accra Basketball League which jumps off on April 24.
In the past, there have been upsets, close games, blowouts and plenty of terrific performances by players who have important roles with their respective teams this term.
Reigning Ghana best player Baniba Dodzie showed by Braves of CEPS are eager to have him involved in their program when he poured 25 points in their final game against a Liberian side to win an eight-club tournament last month.
The fact that Ghana is a goldmine of basketball talent is no news. Inexplicably players’ desire to scale the ladder of excellence and shine beyond the borders of the West African country has become a deferred pipe dream.
“He led us to victory,” said CEPS coach Brimah Lawah
“He was just unbelievable in the last quarter with crucial threes, dagger threes.
“He was 30 feet out and he was making them out.”
He not only scored, but passed the ball to good effect against the Liberian side Barrack and finished with eight assists.
“As soon as I put my eyes on the basket or just pretend like I’m going to raise up, a lot of guys would start running at me,” Dodzie said.
“That would leave some of the other guys wide open.
There is also Tema Youth and Police who are billed to give CEPS a good run for their money this term.
Arguably the two teams have perhaps presented the best opposition to an impregnable CEPS team which has won the competition for an enviable 14-time succession.
That feat is yet to be matched by any side on the continent but has not won them many international assignments outside the African belt.
They are a known-force on the continent and have on a number of occasions underlined their promising potential for all to see.
But for Emmanuel Dickson, who plays for Police and made the short-list for the 2013 best Ghanaian player, it won’t be a walk in the park for CEPS this time around.
“It is going to be an interesting season. I fancy our chances are great this time around,” he said
“We’ve got some new chaps who are hungry for success and will do everything to hit the limelight.
“We have to go out there and prove ourselves. But we also oblivious of the fact that CEPS as always will be overwhelming favourite.
“But we’ll give them a hot chase and not allow them to win the title on the cheap.
“There are youngsters on the horizon who are determined to make name for themselves.”
The season start next month with some mouth-watering fixtures that will whet the appetite of many lovers of the game
CEPS will take on Panthers, Magic hosting Fire Service while Tema Youth slugs it out with Holy Family in the men’s senior championship.
The clash between Police and Prisons has been dubbed as clash of ‘titans’ as the two teams have a great piece of history surrounding such fixtures.
In the women’s division, Braves CEPS will take on Police in the top-of-the-bill encounter at the Lebanon court.
There are also game involving Prison versus Galaxy, Fire Service against Navy while Air Force will stand by.
The division two league will be interesting this term as teams which have tasted top-flight action will be battling it out against some of the emerging teams in the capital.
Nine teams will fight for the two automatic qualification button in a hugely anticipated contest.
Dansoman Dynamics, Galaxy, Catholic Youth Organisation (CYO), Old Skuul Kings (OSK), Warriors, Air Force, Adenta Leopards, Navy and Teshie Rangers will be the main teams to battle for promotion.
Dynamics, coached by promising Ferrany Olulonyo will take on Rangers at the Prisons court on Saturday May 3.
Galaxy battle Navy, Air Force take on Leopards while OSK lock horns with CYO.
