Basketball-Local coaches complete level 2 Fiba Africa coaching course |19 November 2011

The training programme, which took place from November 7-18, was officially closed yesterday by the president of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) Antonio Gopal, in the presence of director for sports management and development in the National Sports Council Robert Auguste, Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) chairman Roy Collie and course coordinator, Fiba Africa instructor Samuel Wanjohi of Kenya.

The theoretical part of the programme took place at the Socga headquarters, while its practical side was conducted at the Palais des Sports.

Upon successfully passing their assessments, the coaches will be entitled to coach at club level as well as at national team level.

During the 12-day-training programme, the coaches covered topics like organisation and management of training, fundamental drills – including footwork, ball handling, individual offensive and defensive drills – offence and defence fundamentals, training methodology, pedagogy and sports nutrition and injuries among others.

Addressing the coaches, Mr Gopal reminded them that they should use whatever knowledge they have acquired to raise the level of local basketball, especially at international level.

SBF chairman Collie thanked the coaches for their commitment during the 12 days of training despite their busy schedule. He also thanked the Socga for the sponsorship and praised the strong partnership between the two sporting bodies.

Mr Collie, who is nearing the end of his three-year-mandate as chairman, urged the coaches to give their full support to his successor and also asked them to play a more active role in revitalising the coaches’ commission.

Course coordinator Wanjohi reminded the coaches that the end of the training programme is the beginning of harder work as they will have to put into practice what they have learnt. He also advised them to remain active for the coming two years as they will be assessed through continuous monitoring from the local body. If they fail to do so, he said, they will be deregistered from the Fiba-accredited coaches’ list.

He also encouraged the coaches to focus more on the youth development programme which, he added, is the best way to keep producing and maintaining good players.

Mr Wanjohi has also promised to help the local coaches whenever they feel the need.

The ceremony ended with presentation of basketballs sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity to the coaches.

The coaches who have followed the course are Michel Malbrook, Nigel Ah-kong, Alvin Alcindor, Serge Radegonde, Grégoire Scholastique, Alix Allisop, Dominic Pillay, Tony Juliette, Guy Hall, Jerry Andrew, Paul Denis, Philip Arissol, Lenny Aglaé, Pascal Fostel and Denis Dodin.

R. D.