We werent just a sports team, we were family.

When I joined the team in my first year, the Manchester Womens basketball team were division one defending champions. We were top of the league. We were undefeated and that trend continued for about two seasons. Back then, we had some pretty amazing players and that gave us a pretty amazing team but by far, this year's team has been the best out of the years I've played. Sure, we didnt do as well this year as we did previous years, but at least we had an amazing season trying! and what makes it special is that this year's team didnt just feel like a sports team. It felt like family. 

So last week, we had the Christie Cup, the battle of the North between Liverpool-Leeds-Manchester and we wanted to end our season with a bang! Going into this we knew that it was going to be our last game with the original five. Karla, Duygu, Amy, Sheila and me. The five that have been playing together for almost 3 years. and next year, Karla and Amy are leaving. In the last game against Leeds, John, our coach had purposedly put on the first five for the last quarter of the game cause he knew how much it would mean to us. After the final whistle blew, I couldnt help but feel a little lot sad that it was time to wrap it up and call it a year. 

The buzzer sounded which signaled the end of the game and the five of us all looked at each other on court, walked over and embraced in such an emotional huddle that we didnt realise the other team had come over for congratulatory handshakes. It was such a beautiful moment. (Excuse the mushyness). As much as I enjoy individual sports like track & field, I think this is the thing I love most about team sports. The fact that you dont really play to win it for yourself, but you do it for the team. If they fail, it means you've failed and I've learnt so much over the years of playing basketball with different teammates.

The thing about team sports is that everyone contributes to the success of the team. You might be the MVP and score a hundred baskets a game, or you might just be a sub and cheering on from the bench, or you might even be the 'lucky' person who gets smelly kit duty that week, but no contribution is too small. And I am grateful to have been able to be part of this amazing, hard-working team.

And not only does this team play together, they party together too. Hard. 

See you next season ladies, 
Peja a.k.a Fiz xx