Ex-Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah visits former school

Ex-Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah visited his alma mater Opoku Ware School on Saturday ahead of the famous Sprite Basketball Championship in Accra next week.

The 54-year-old, who currently handles Sudanese side Al Khartoum, visited the basketball team at their training ground on Friday as the team prepares for the massive championship in the country’s capital, Accra.

The Sprite Ball Championship is the biggest basketball event in Ghana and commands an incredible support base scattered across the West African country.

Opoku Ware School is among three schools in the Ashanti region which have qualified for the national final expected to take place at the El-Wak sports stadium from January 5-7, 2016.

And the former Black Stars coach, who is currently on holiday in his native country, traveled to Ghana’s second largest city to prep the youngsters ahead of their participation in the hugely-anticipated event.

“It’s a delight to be here again and wants to take the opportunity to wish you well ahead of the Sprite Ball competition, “he told the players amid cheers

“I have heard a lot about this event and I believe you will go out there and make our school proud.

“Stay focused, be determined and keep your discipline. These are the major positive traits to success.

“Basketball is a great sport and can turn your lives around if you keep your eye to the ball. The scholarship opportunities are incredible and so please listen to your coaches and make it happen.

“We are solidly behind you and so go out there and be champions.”

Basketball is the fastest growing sport in Ghana and well documented as the second most preferred sport among the youth in the West African nation.

Young entrepreneur and iconic TV personality Yaw Sakyi Afari has led a campaign to revolutionize the interest of the game which continues to gain massive inches in the Ghanaian media.

Apart from football, it’s the only sport which has a dedicated TV show in Africa - Fast Break and airs on premier television station TV3.

16 boys schools and 10 girls schools will slug it out in the three-day competition which has been largely dominated by powerhouses Mfantsipim School and TI Amass in the boys and girls division respectively.

The Kumasi-based school has drawn Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), St.Thomas Aquinas and Aggrey Memorial Mount Zion School in pool C