Head coach Atiba Lyons and player Bennett Koch discuss the season ahead and what it will mean to the Sheffield Sharks playing in their new purpose-built Canon Medical Arena in the city for the 2023-24 British Basketball League (BBL) campaign
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 So, Atiba, exciting times for Sheffield Sharks preparing for a new season in a new home.
00:19 Yeah, it's been fantastic. It's something that we've worked really hard for for a long
00:23 time so to be in this building and start the season, it's surreal but it's phenomenal for
00:31 the Sharks.
00:32 And you've been involved with this club for 12, 13, 14 years now, something like this.
00:36 How much more of a spring in the step have you had this summer?
00:40 You know, it's been a rough summer because there's been a lot of work to be done but
00:46 it's been enjoyable with a smile on my face. It's a pleasure to come here to work, it's
00:50 a pleasure to come here and put the graft in when you come in a place like this and
00:54 to see your kind of hard work come to life in the form of a building and the club growing
01:00 is just speechless really.
01:02 Because you're more than just a head coach, you're a director so you're invested in a
01:06 whole operation so you'll have been quite involved in this as well.
01:10 Yeah, absolutely. I'm one of the owners as well and director, coach, a little bit of
01:15 everything. Water boy, towel boy, whatever needs to be done, you know, we all work hard
01:19 and work from top to bottom. No one's too good to get their hands dirty so it's a great
01:24 team to be a part of, manager wise, Sarah, you and myself, John, Tim, we've worked really
01:29 hard and I'm proud of everybody.
01:31 And hopefully come October 8th we're going to have a good number of fans on these bleachers.
01:35 That's the plan, you know, you're able to come out and support. We want your club to
01:40 grow, we're growing, we're working hard and we want to repay you for all the loyal support
01:45 we've had over the numerous years before my time and keep coming back out, keep supporting
01:49 us and we'll keep growing.
01:58 So Bennett, ahead of your fifth season with Sheffield Sharks, this one a bit more excitement
02:02 about it because of where we stood right now.
02:04 Yeah, absolutely. I mean this new arena, a lot of new positive energy, I think it's a
02:09 step in the right direction. I'm very excited for the season coming up.
02:13 When you were making the decision to come back to Sheffield, was this a factor?
02:16 Yeah, absolutely. I mean it's exciting, we've got our own home, we've got, hopefully we'll
02:20 be able to pack the stands with some fans and bring some energy into the gym.
02:25 And the locker room, TV, everything.
02:26 Yeah, it's awesome. I love it. Yeah, it feels like home.
02:29 Yeah, does it have a bit of a feel of like a college or maybe even a high school gymnasium?
02:34 Yeah, absolutely. I mean it's our own facility, right, so we control what we practice and
02:38 all that kind of stuff which is a huge improvement from Ponds Forge. We also have our own space,
02:42 our own locker room and it's very nice.
02:44 Yeah, is that something that gives you a bit more extra motivation as well?
02:48 Absolutely.
02:49 The practice sessions?
02:50 Yeah, I feel like we have to defend this place instead of Ponds Forge where it's kind of
02:53 a local gym. Like I said, this is our place, so it's our home for it.
02:59 Fifth season ahead, then what are your expectations with the Sharks this year?
03:02 Well, our expectations are always high. Very confident in the team. I think we have a lot
03:05 of talent, a lot of skill, a lot of guys that want to play, that want to learn how to play
03:12 our system. Like I said, a lot of talented new guys, so it's looking very good. I'm very
03:17 excited.
03:18 And hopefully get some silverware that you've been after for a while.
03:20 Absolutely. I'd like that very much.
03:21 [END OF TRANSCRIPT]
03:22 ?
03:23 ?
03:24 ?
03:25 ?
03:27 ?
03:28 [BLANK_AUDIO]