Seed Academy hosts basketball clinic for coaches and players

Seed Academy, the basketball organization founded by Ghanaian-born American NBA star Pops Mensah Bonsu, recently concluded a two-day clinic focusing on player and coaching development.

The event, held at the University of Ghana Legon Basketball court, gathered over 30 coaches from Cote D'Ivoire, Togo, and Ghana.

Leading the coaching sessions was Lee Ann Osei, a member of the Coaching Development Team for the Toronto Raptors, and a Ghanaian by birth. Osei covered essential aspects of the sport, including effective communication tactics, on-court warm-ups, player positioning, match communication, ball handling, court movements, ball control, turnovers, shooting techniques, and dribbling.

Pops Mensah Bonsu, speaking on the sidelines of the training, expressed his commitment to constructing a basketball gymnasium on the Legon campus. His aim is to provide a level playing field for Ghana in the global basketball arena and address the current lack of infrastructure hindering the sport's progress in the country.

Bemoaning the insufficient infrastructure for basketball in Ghana, Mensah Bonsu urged authorities to prioritize the development of sports facilities. He emphasized that Seed Academy's focus extends beyond basketball, aiming to equip the continent's youth with valuable life skills and vocational opportunities.

The 'Elite 50 Basketball Camp,' a two-day program, commenced with training sessions for Under-18 boys and girls from Ghana, Togo, and Cote D'Ivoire. The initiative aligns with Seed Academy's broader mission of utilizing basketball as a tool for youth development.

Observing the proceedings closely, Ato Van Ess, the President of the Ghana Basketball Federation (GBF), commended the efforts of Pops Mensah Bonsu in facilitating the growth of basketball in the country. Van Ess revealed that some of the trained coaches would volunteer at the upcoming African Games, emphasizing the game's rapid growth in Ghana.

Looking ahead, Van Ess expressed optimism about the national team's performance, predicting a gold medal at the African Games. He stressed the importance of improved preparation and funding for achieving this goal, urging a more serious approach towards the development of basketball in the country.