Inside Sheffield Sharks' new Canon Medical Arena with Atiba Lyons and Bennett Koch

Yorkshire Post

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

Transcript

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.

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