Basketball coaching clinic promises coaching of international standards

POLOKWANE – THE coaching standard of basketball in Limpopo promises to be of international standards following a five-day coaching course held in Polokwane last week.

The coaching clinics, which were arranged by Basketball South African, were facilitated by acclaimed coaches from Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA).

According to Limpopo Basketball Association (LIBA) director of coaching, Gazani “Lebhani” Khoza, all the coaches who attended the course would be accredited with FIBA coaching licences.

Those who failed the course would merely receive certificates of participation.

“Limpopo had a total number of 19 coaches representing various structures.

“There was general consensus among stakeholders that we should take the cream of the coaching crop in the province to attend this course.

“There were also top coaches who represented schools and tertiary institutions of learning in the country,” Khoza said.

Those who attended the course included provincial senior women’s mentor, Willy Matlakala, as well as Lestrina Mathipa and Daniel Malotane, who coach the provincial u/18 women’s and senior men’s teams respectively.

“This course played a fundamental role in improving the level of coaching in Limpopo.

“This province has some of the shrewdest coaches who can go very far in their coaching careers. For those who have passed, the results will instil a lot of confidence in them,” said Khoza.

He consoled those who failed and urged them not to despair.

While the coaching clinics were in full swing in Polokwane, provincial head of Limpopo Pride, Sinky Mphahlele, was in Zimbabwe as assistant coach for the South African national team.

SA is competing against the host nation, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Angola in the Afro Basketball Tournament.