Sharks coach's rallying call to Southland community
“Our last home game, we had close to 2200 people. I would love to fill it all the way up [tonight]."
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Southland Sharks coach Jonathan Yim has put out a rallying call to the Southland public declaring he wants to be the first Sharks coach to help fill up ILT Stadium Southland.
The Sharks will tonight (Thursday) host the Auckland Tuatara in the first National Basketball League playoff game in Invercargill since 2016.
Win tonight and the Sharks will book a semifinal date with the Canterbury Rams in in Christchurch on Sunday.
The two-day turnaround will create some logistical nightmares for those having to sort flights and accommodation, but it will be a welcomed problem to have to deal with for the busy folk at Sharks HQ.
Coach Yim is calling on the Southland community to show up in big numbers tonight to cheer on the Sharks with the season on the line.
Lose and the 2025 title hopes will be over.
“Our last home game, we had close to 2200 people. I would love to fill it all the way up [tonight]. That was a goal of mine that I set at the beginning of the year,” Yim told The Roar Podcast this week.
“I forget what interview it was, very early, I said I want to be the first coach to sell that place out. So, this is a rallying cry to everyone in Southland. Show up.”
The Sharks will enter the knockout playoff game on the back of seven straight wins following what was a difficult start to the season.
“I'm really proud of the boys and the way that they fought all year. And now to have the opportunity to play a finals home game in front of our fans, that's really exciting,” Yim said.
Alonzo Burton has played for the Sharks since 2021 and was excited by the prospect of playing a playoff game in Invercargill.
“Just to be in front of our fans and our loyal fans, it's the best-case scenario for us and we're excited,” Burton told The Roar Podcast.
“I'm sure there'll be a few nerves going through the team and stuff like that, but we know with the fans behind us, to see what the atmosphere was like last week, how amazing it was, how loud and proud they were. So, we're excited and we're looking forward to seeing everyone back there.”
Tonight’s Southland Sharks-Auckland Tuatara game is scheduled to tip-off at 7pm.
Six tickets on my credit card - totally worth it..... Up the Shahs!!!