The Ghana Basketball Federation (GBF) has congratulated Spintex Knights on their qualification to the Elite 16 stage of the Road to Basketball Africa League (BAL). The team sealed qualification by winning all three games in the Division West group phase of qualifiers in Tripoli, Libya. Spintex Knights recorded a 92-71 victory over Benin’s Energie Basketball Club to finish top of Group B.
The team maintained their unbeaten record in the competition after defeating fellow group members, Nabaya Sofa of Guinea 98-90 and NPA Pythons of Liberia 88-66. The GBF president, Mr Alex Kukula, welcomed the team at the Accra International Airport on Monday, accompanied by the club president, Dr Eric Opoku Antwi, and some executives of the club.
Mr Kukula praised the players and technical team for their determination and commitment in representing Ghana on the international stage. He described the feat as a significant achievement for the club and Ghana basketball, expressing confidence that the Knights could continue their impressive run in the next phase of the competition.
The GBF president acknowledged the financial challenges facing basketball development in the country, citing that limited funding remains a major obstacle to providing clubs like Spintex Knights with the support they need to compete at the highest level. The GBF is exploring alternative funding opportunities to support its activities, leagues, and clubs participating in international competitions.
Dr Opoku Antwi applauded the coaching staff and players for their success, which he attributed to the team’s right recruitment strategy designed to address areas they had struggled with in previous campaigns. The team’s success was also attributed to the experience gained from previous appearances and the players’ willingness to execute the game plan.
The Head coach of the team, Selorm Thomas, credited the team’s success to the committed coaching staff and the players’ execution of the game plan. Attention now turns to preparations for the Abidjan tournament from November 10-15, where Spintex Knights will aim to sustain their momentum and continue their quest to reach the main 2027 BAL season.
The GBF president added that his outfit is looking at ways to generate funding to support the federation, the leagues, and clubs in competitions like this. He welcomed any assistance from the Ministry, which faces well-known financial challenges.
Key points
- The Ghana Basketball Federation congratulates Spintex Knights on their qualification to the Elite 16 stage of the Road to Basketball Africa League.
- The team sealed qualification by winning all three games in the Division West group phase of qualifiers in Tripoli, Libya.
- The GBF president, Mr Alex Kukula, appeals for support for the team, citing limited funding as a major obstacle to providing clubs with the support they need to compete at the highest level.
