Hoops maintain good run in Basketball League

Cape Coast Hoops have continued their good run in the ongoing Greater Accra Regional Basketball League. Hoops trounced the Fire Service team 90-57 on Saturday at the Lebanon House Basketball Court to enhance their chances of emerging champions. By the victory, Hoops have now improved their record for the 2009 season to 4-1 win-loss ratio from five games during which they have also beaten Tema Youth 73-72, Holy Family 85-78 and CYO 78-22. Their only defeat thus far has come against the defending champions CEPS who look unstoppable. CEPS beat Hoops 96-79 in a run of four wins from four games played so far. Customs also brushed aside challenges from Fire 97-52, Tema Youth 95-81 as well as Holy Family 74-58. Adding to the defeat of top performers Cape Coast Hoops, CEPS surely must be in a very good position for a successful defence of their title. But the coach of Hoops has indicated his side’s readiness to wrestle the champions’ tag away from CEPS even if they are responsible for his side’s only loss thus far.

“The destiny that we are going to be successful through Basketball, nobody can stop it. We are very determined at Hoops and we will keep working hard until our efforts are rewarded with the ultimate title. I believe we will do it this year and may God help us,” he said to The National Star. Hoops are the only team based outside Accra playing in the league and do not have any sponsorship at all but have been doing it the hard way and their coach insists that the rewards will surely come soon. The cost of travelling to and fro Accra for their matches are enormous but the coach has done his best to minimize it, sometimes the players are given meals for once on match days. But they are not giving up the fight to develop Basketball not only in the Central Region but the whole of Ghana.

“It is difficult, it is hard but it is my passion. It is a long term project so no crying over the pains of today. Perhaps when one of the players gets to play in the USA or in Europe, they can look back and remember us,” stated the Cape Coast Hoops coach.

On the fight for the 2009 Greater Accra Basketball League championship, he maintained his belief that Cape Coast Hoops will emerge champions in the end. “I am very confident because everybody knows we are the best team in the league. Everybody wants to beat us. Even CEPS know it the way they celebrated when they beat us. But we shall overcome them next time,” the coach stated confidently. In another game this past weekend, Tudu Wizards who previously lost all three games, ended on the losing side yet again. Reformers were the nemesis on this occasion. Reformers also by the result garnered their second win from as many matches.