2017 Marks a remarkable milestone of the famous Sprite Ball Championship and once again lovers of the game will be treated to an exciting weeks of basketball festival.
It’s been 10-years since the Sprite Ball Championship took centre stage in Ghana and a decade down the landscape; it has produced several ingredients of thrills, disappointment, revenge, scholarships, heartbreak.
It’s a story that has touched many lives in diverse ways, providing several career opportunities for players who are keen to thrive in the fastest growing sport in the West African nation.
From painters marking floors in the regions, others working on banners, flyers, posters and jersey production as well as caterers providing food, the Sprite Ball Championship has served as a source of employment for many young men and women in the year under the microscope.
Looking back to the journey and how the revolution started send a sense of nostalgic feeling to patrons amid teething challenges that confronted the organization of the event.
For a country that is overly concentrated on football, there were genuine doubters who questioned the sustainability of the developmental and promotional agenda.
But today the Sprite Ball Championship is not just the most popular amongst the youth, but the most sough-after basketball event on the calendar.
It has produced several players who have transitioned into super star in Ghana and nurturing ambitions of playing in the top leagues of Europe and the Americas.
Indeed some of the products of the competition have attained their long-cherished dream of earning scholarships to study in the more established Universities and Colleges abroad.
Fast forward and the competition enjoyed a ringing endorsement from several of basketball top aficionados.
From politicians, former and current stars, businessmen and women, Ghana Basketball Association, Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Authority and the Ghana Education Service, the Sprite Ball Championship cut across the hemisphere.
On the court, Mfantsipim and Aggrey Memorial have remained the dominant force, winning several titles among them.
Mfantsipim, the oldest Senior High School in Ghana have won the title for record four times – two more than their closes challengers Achimota School.
The ‘School’ has already bagged the Sprite Ball trophy for keeps following its third title win in 2013.
Mfantsipim’s tremendous support can be credited for the immense success chalked so far with school authorities and Old Boys Association pumping massive amounts of cash into the basketball program. The perennial title favorites will be on the hunt for a record extending fifth time in 2017.
Six-time finalists and two-time champions Aggrey Memorial have been dogmatic as far as the girls division is concerned.
They have enjoyed a fabulous rivalry with Kumasi-based TI Ahmadiyya and previously Sacred Heart.
The Sprite Ball Championship will be 10-years in January and a lot of activities have been lined up to celebrate the remarkable milestone.
In the days ahead, BASKETBALLghana.com will chronicle the feat chalked and heartbreaks suffered by consistent performers at the event.
