2001: The Team is Born

    Coached by Coach Lee Rosky the team began with a squad of 15. Having had several years without a basketball team, Coach Rosky decided that beginning a successful basketball team for the students to join, would create a good model for other RAKESS teams to follow, and hopefully after some time, create a successful athletics program. 

    However, things didn't start so easily. The team itself had been running for several months before it was given a name. After some pensive moments about the team, Coach Rosky decided that Athletics at RAKESS, would need a mascott and logo. So, he devised a contest, in which students were to design a mascott and write a paragraph about why the school's athletics teams should use that mascott.

    After a month of receiving ideas of numerous different mascotts, ranging from the RAKESS Dragons to the RAKESS Canadians (Coach Rosky's personal favourite of course), a mascott was chosen on 23rd January of 2002. All Athletics teams at Ras Al Khaimah English Speaking School were christened with the name: The RAKESS Falcons which was designed by (???????).

    This was a dramatic step in the evolution of RAKESS Athletics and the Basketball team; firstly because they now had a name! And secondly because now the players of all RAKESS Athletics teams, had a mascott which each and every player was proud to represent, as a symbol of not only the school's Athletics but also of the Emirates.

    It was then, after a week or so of saving money that the team began to gain its icon. The uniforms came in, the new equipment and practise shirts all began to come in at an alarming rate.

    Then, after several matches; the first, which had been played fairly well against The American School of Dubai,  the second which had been lost to the RAKESS staff and the third which had also been lost to the RAKESS staff by just four points, the true legacy of the RAKESS Falcons had begun.

The Pre-Falcon Days:

    There were the days without Coach Rosky, without the icon, without even basketballs; that were hard but had to be overcome. There were the days when the football team dominated the hall, and occupied it nights after nights for their intense, training. These were the Pre-Falcon Days.

    Break-time ball, was just about the only future that the team had. Ali-oops, shots from half-court and one-handed, no-look passes were the norm for the boys on the court, things that they would even dream of doing now . The undisciplined ways and rough streetball plays, were all that could be seen when passing that out door court. The fire-red titanium hoops and the beautifully clear fiberglass backboards were but mere dreams for the players, as the only existed in the RAKESS Gym, which was of course occupied by the football team.

    But on one, fine day, when the sun was coming out from behind the dark grey clouds and the breeze was perfect for a nice outdoor, call game, came a man which would change RAKESS Basketball forever. His name: Coach Rosky. The boys on the court, would never forget the look he gave when he passed by and saw somebody hurl the ball from half-court. His first thought: change.   

    Exactly nine and a half days later, began a new era that would give RAKESS Athletics what it had been waiting for, for years. Alongside the Head of Athletics, both Coach Rosky and trainer David Proudfoot would create equality for all, and from that moment, the RAKESS Gym, was no longer a place of dreams and fantasies, but a reality, and a true haven for all RAKESS Athletes, Sportsmen and Women.

Beyond 2002: The Legacy continues.

    With the icon, the support and the progress, the RAKESS Falcons have a great future ahead of them. Having signed a contract with Mr. Henry Boveman, Executive President of the British School's basketball league in Dubai, the team is scheduled to begin their season in October of 2002 through to March of 2003, with several friendly matches that will be arranged by the School's Athletics Director. The team should then be playing in several tournaments in other Emirates, and hopefully host their own tournament with teams from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.

   With new talents coming in continuously, the team should be able to put together a strong squad  to represent the school in other Emirates. The future of the Falcons, seems very exciting for many RAKESS Athletes and should bring more opportunities for RAKESS Athletes every year. What happens in the coming seasons is all very unpredictable, but in the words of Coach Lee Rosky, "the best is what can and shall e given for all that comes for us".