The steady bouncing of the ball can be heard all the way to the coffee shop of the Töölö Kisahalli, even though it’s only approaching eight in the morning. It has also meant an early morning wake-up call for the players of ToPo from Helsinki, who lead the women’s Korisliiga.
Despite this, the 25-year-old Magdalene Agyei a wide smile shines from his lips before the start of the throwing practice. Ghanaian-born Agyei’s day would normally continue for the athlete line of the bakery-confectionery school at Omnia in Espoo, but at the time of the interview, he was on vacation from studies.
In the Women’s Korisliiga, the player fees are not that high, so in addition to her studies, Agyei also works in an interior design shop.
ToPo pays Agyei a player fee, but it is not enough to cover all living expenses.
Agyei, who is part of the standard equipment of the Finnish national team, trains professionally, but he understands that he cannot live on basketball alone.
– I have been juggling a basket and work at the same time for quite a long time. It doesn’t affect me very much. Of course, sometimes it feels like it’s a bit heavy, admits Agyei.
– Basketball is a big part of my everyday life, but yes, I still have to work a little on top of it. I live alone and have my own car. In addition, there are all other expenses that I can’t cover with just a basket.
Professionalism as a dream
In the future, Agyei believes things will be different. Already this season, Agyei has taken big steps forward in his career, so the dream of becoming a professional in Europe is even closer.
Agyei, who is already playing in ToPo’s shirt for the fifth season, admits that he would be ready to take the next step in his career.
– It is now in the big picture. I’ve usually been the kind of player that I’ve liked to go one season at a time. Now I have already taken several seasons at a time, so now I have a big dream to get to play abroad, dreams Agyei.
The regular face of the women’s national team has taken big steps forward in her career every year, so the transfer to the Euro courts can be realized already after this season. There have already been inquiries.
Agyei doesn’t have his own player agent yet, but he has people around him who can help him in his career towards his next goal.
Although being a professional is Agyei’s number one goal, he also wants to do good for others.
– In addition, I would like to help young people who look like me and want to aim high through basketball, Agyei says.
“If he can do it, why can’t I”
Even as a child, Agyei was exceptionally athletic. She is still recognized for the same thing in the women’s Korisliiga.
Born in Vantaa, Agyei found his way to basketball when he was just under 10 years old. He had his own cousin as the most important inspiration – who played more than 300 matches in the Korisliiga, mainly in the Pussihukkien shirt Nanayaw Awuah-Addae.
Awauh-Addae eventually became an important role model in the early stages of his basketball career. Everything came to fruition in the situation where he saw his cousin’s picture in an advertisement.
– At that time, you couldn’t see male and female actors who looked like me in public. It was a really big deal for me when my own relative was in such a picture. He was dark-skinned in my opinion. I thought then that if he can do it, why not me, says Agyei.
Agyei states that he has encountered racism several times throughout his life, and name-calling and discrimination have still not disappeared from Finnish society.
Basketball became a haven for Agyei at a young age, where he could be himself.
– You don’t see much racism in Koris, but unfortunately there is still quite a lot of it outside of basketball. It’s nice that in my own everyday life, i.e. basketball, you don’t see it at all, so it balances things out.
Big role available at ToPo
ToPo has been at the top of the women’s Korisliiga throughout the season. Agyei has also fared better than ever before.
Agyei has almost doubled his scoring average from last season (7.8 pts). The Ghanaian back has now thrown the reigning champions 15 points per game.
ToPosta Carmen Tyson-Thomas (24.6 pts), only played five matches Sarah Gates (18 pts) and a legend of Finnish women’s basketball Taru Tuukkanen (15.1 pts) have played Agyei with harder powers.
Known as a terrier-like defender, Agyei is one of ToPo’s key players, often getting to stop the opponent’s smartest player.
Even though the team has renewed a lot since the championship spring, has become the team’s head coach for this season Arttu Tammi made the team play well together.
ToPo is at the top of the league with 30 points from 16 matches (15 wins). Second is Kotka Peli-Karhut, who has 26 pins in 15 matches.
– In a way, we have a fairly new team. Carmen and Taru and a few junior players are still involved. We’ve started driving really well.
– I have trusted this team and the way the organization works. It has been easy to compete, concludes Agyei.