Dribble, shoot, score in new kids’ league

Ballito’s resident basketball coach Kent Vanderyacht is hoping to grow the sport locally through the introduction of a new weekly league.

Vanderyacht is the co-founder of the Hearts That Hope children’s home and has been active in promoting basketball locally.

This includes an academy which he runs, the Yachts of Fun Junior Basketball Academy, as well as offering coaching services in public and private schools.

He is currently the head coach of Northwood High School’s first team.

“I am trying to use sport to bridge the link between advantaged and disadvantaged communities. My coaching at private schools allows me to host clinics and buy equipment for those schools which do not have the funds,” he said.

To further solidify the basketball culture which he has helped to create, Vanderyacht has started a junior league, the first matches of which took place at Reddam House Ballito recently.

The league hosts both school and club teams, with a total of nine to face off in rotating fixtures over the next six weeks.

Aside from Reddam, matches will also be played at Eden Academy and Townsend Park.

Vanderyacht is hoping to find sponsorship for the league, which would allow him to implement more basketball programmes across the North Coast.

If you would like to help, call Vanderyacht at 078 849 4313.

The first three primary school league matches were played at Reddam Ballito on Friday.

Reddam beat RA Padayachee 16-15, with Faye Harrison scoring 13 of Reddam’s points.

Yachts of Fun Blue beat Beaches 36-4, with Zac Khemelo the top scorer with 12 points.

In the third match Yachts of Fun White beat Shakaskraal Primary SA 26-11. Cale Khemelo and Nkosi Hadebe each scored 10 points.

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