In the words of the famous novelist Rudyard Kipling, “The strength of the pack is the Wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack” but a lone wolf will attempt to do it all against the sternest test.
A flick of his wrist etched Shooting guard Emmanuel Wolff’s name in University of Ghana (UG) history forever. That flick was the defining moment in Ghana’s premier University’s return to the apex of tertiary basketball in the West African nation.
His three point shot with eight seconds left on the clock gave UG a 45-44 lead over Accra Technical University (ATU) which ended up as the final score. An equally historic call played a key role in the ensuing possession but the result ensured UG won its first of three straight UPAC titles.
The Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) Basketball Championship is the most highly regarded basketball competition in Ghana’s tertiary education ranks and the win propelled UG to conquer Africa twice winning the All Africa University Games.
Prior to UG’s latest attempt to win a record extending fourth UPAC Trophy, Wolff stands as the sole member of the 2016 winning team that started the dynastic run. Members of that group including Joshua Akai, Max Mode, Aziz Abubakar, Kwame Opoku Tham and Uchenna Ochegbu have graduated since.
However, one constant remains for UG in Emmanuel Wolff and with a young supporting cast, the former Koforidua Senior High Technical School standout will be counted on more than ever to deliver a title in his final run with the team.
The journey begins in Zone 8 on Saturday, April 6 as the defending champs take on Central University, Regional Maritime University and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) for a place in the quarterfinals. There are lots of targets on their backs but UG’s Lone Wolff is the surest bet to deliver another big performance on the biggest stage in Ghana basketball despite the enormous changes around him.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
