The 2015 Sprite Ball Championship is barely a week away and the Ashanti Region will be duly represented in the famous championship.
Long-standing rivals Opoku Ware School and Prempeh College as well as new boys King College will hold the flag of the Garden City High.
Girls Champions T1 Ahmadiyya are back in the midst again to retain their title.
Prempeh College
Undoubtedly the most successful male team in the region, Prempeh is the real chance for any Ashanti team to win the championship.
Their silver medal winning feat in 2010 at the national level in 2010 is their best performance in the capital.
They have remained the most dominant force in their region and come into the final championship as the champions having beaten sworn rivals Opoku Ware School.
Prempeh College have not disappointed since they entered the race in the Sprite Ball Championship in Ghana. Schools in the Ashnati region were admitted into the prestigious competition in 2009 and they have never looked back, following suit with swash-buckling performances that has got fans on the edge.
The Kumasi-based school thrilled fans with fine performances during the 5th anniversary of the championship at the Aviation Social Centre and many are beginning to tout them as the side that could be capable of dislodging Keta Senior High from the throne.
It is remarkable the kind of talents that have pass through the hands of controversial boss Yaw Broni. You may hate him or like him for his character, antics and no-nonsense approach, but Prempeh College’s coach has made his team thick and continues to attract the headlines for the many right or wrong reasons. If for nothing at all, he has been able to craft a side that has performed creditably well since they were ‘inducted’ into the competition some five years ago.
The high level of interest shown by authorities at the school deserved commendation.
They have produced likes of Okyere, Manry, Zugah, Aboagye, Baafi, Owusu, Biney, Akrasi, Basta, Amponsah and Emmanuel Mobila.
For instance, Baafi’s pace, tackling and engineer works in the centre of the court was amazing to watch and given the fact he’s young, he could explode into the limelight with serious training and determination.
The defensive minded foes created havoc at both end of the court, picking pocket, pulling in boards, making buckets and making numerous shots for teammates at the last edition of the championship at the El-Wak Stadium.
Opoku Ware School
Opoku Ware School have become a constant feature in the Sprite Ball Championship and return again with massive hope.
They lost the final Ashanti regional game against Prempeh but cannot be discounted at the national level after placing third this year.
They lost their semi-final contest against eventual winners Keta Senior High but managed an impressive win against Mfantsipim to pick bronze.
A strong force whose potential has never been in doubt.
Kings College
The new boys from the Ashanti region is a formidable force. Having qualified at the expense of Kumasi Anglican, Kumasi High and Kumasi Academy, Kings College could become the dark horses.
For a team which has produced Anthony Duodu, King College return to their second successive championship brimmed with confidence.
TI Ahmadiyya
The debutant came, saw and conquered and now return to the El-Wak stadium as the Queens in the West African country.
Having beaten and dislodge Aggrey Memorial in this year’s finals, Real Amass are the sure bet to retain the title.
They have the core of their members around and will be looking forward to dishing out another impressive performance between January 9-10, 2015.
