Sharks look to the future

One Health Sharks Sheffield placed the emphasis on the next generation of player as they held their annual media launch on Monday evening. Chairman Yuri Matischen, himself an Olympic volunteer, stated the club’s intent to build on the 2012 legacy by looking to develop the Sharks players of the future.

Players from the Junior Sharks three teams were invited along to the evening. Junior Sharks Chairman John Timms hailed the major development for the club that has already produced players for the Yorkshire and England age-group squads. The club now has a clear talent pathway identified and will utilise its links with Sheffield Hallam University to ensure that the team grows organically as well as importing talent from elsewhere. The club will be supported in these aims by major sponsors One Health and B-Braun Medical, who staged the event at their impressive base in the north of Sheffield.

Head Coach Atiba Lyons stated that one of the factors in his retirement from playing was the opportunity to re-establish the Junior Sharks and create players to fill the current occupants shoes. A joke at the expense of the greying Mike Tuck raised a smile with the audience but Lyons was deadly serious in his intention to deliver the best junior programme around.

Moving on to the senior mens side, Atiba spoke of the cold sweats and nightmares that an unsuccessful 2011-12 season had given him. Unaccustomed to such a torrid time, he vowed not to settle for mediocrity again in the upcoming campaign. Early signing Nashid Beard has been released as the Sharks look to hit upon a formula that will serve them well in the months to come.

Formalities over, it was time to discover how some of the players were shaping up for the first game at home to Leicester Riders on Friday.

New backcourt duo, Micah Williams and Gage Daye spoke of their keen-ness to get the season under way. Shooting Guard Williams explained how he had ‘positive feedback’ about the BBL and that it was a ‘good competiton.’ Micah went on to say that he had heard it was a ‘competitve league and one hundred percent we can afford no off-days.’ Williams became decidedly animated when mentioning how he had been looking forward to the start of the season for a while and that the team were all excited to get out and play (and hopefully get a win). Speaking of Friday’s opponents Leicester, Point Guard Daye had heard that they are ‘a good team but we want to get off to a good start.’ He also believed that Newcastle, conquerors of the Sharks in a pre-season tournament in the North East, were among the front runners for honours. The duo spoke of their interchangable roles during the five or so practice sessions the team had already held and ended on an amusing note about their difficulties obtaining groceries in Rotherham! (Confusing enough for a South Yorkshire native let alone an American!).

Present at the evening was ex-Newcastle Eagle Andrew Bridge. Bridge spoke of how he had thoroughly enjoyed his ten years in the North East but believed it would be a nice way to end his career at the side he had played for in the late nineties. A few details were yet to be finalised but Andrew hoped to be on court at the EIS on Friday. The team were working on a lot in training and he was happy with their progress. The Sharks had a bit of an ‘eyeopener’ in their match-up with Newcastle the previous week but the native of Tapton, Chesterfield stated that the Sharks had a talented team, albeit with youth and a need to keep learning. When prompted for his definite appearance on Friday, Bridge answered with a smile and a guarded, ‘hope so.’ Supporters at the EIS need to keep their fingers crossed!

So a season of optimism awaits the Sharks. The club is making all the right noises regarding its future development and investment in youth and the wider community. On the court, Coach Lyons appears to be building a roster that keeps consistent performers like Mike Tuck and Olu Babalola allied with exciting and hungry talent like Gage Daye and Micah Williams. Add developing young players like Zac Gachette and Colin Sing and it appears that the Club is in it for the long haul. Season 2012-13 awaits!