Tag Archives: leadership development programme

by | November 29, 2011 · 9:19 pm

Coach Spotlight: Sandile “Sah” Sithole

Sandile “Sah” Sithole is one of PPI-South Africa’s most prized coaches.  His energy is infectious and the kids flock to him wherever he goes.  Without a doubt, he has changed hundreds of kids lives in his five years as a PPI-SA coach. This week, PPI Fellow Claire Perry interviewed Sah about his experiences with PPI. 

Claire: Sah, tell me your story.

Sah: I started out as a participant back in 2006 in the Leadership Development Programme (LDP).  After Igraduated from LDP, I decided to stay on with PPI and coach, thanks to Lamontville’s  Area Coordinator Sosha Mthethwa.

Claire: How has it been, working as a coach for PPI for the past five years?

Sah: I’m a celebrity now, thanks to PPI.  I am well known, especially within the Wunga Boys.

(Wunga is a mixture of ecstacy, ARV’s, and rat poison that is mixed in with cigarettes.  The drug is extremely popular with teenagers throughout KZN and once wunga is tried, the fix is incredibly strong.  One day, the basketball pole was stolen from our court. When asked where it went, the participants said the Wunga Boys took it; they will steal anything to smoke more Wunga.)

Claire: Why are you well known within the Wunga Boys?

Sah: Well, I kinda made basketball cool at Bhekaphambile Primary and all the school kids would come and watch our games.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t have all the school kids play though I at least was able to win their support during our games.  And now, I’m protected because the Wunga boys never go after me beacuse they remember me as the cool coach at PPI.

Claire: Do you think from those kids you did teach, you prevented them from entering the drug world?

Sah: Yes. Beacuse none of the kids I used to coach, do smoke wunga.  And they definitely do not associate with any of the Wunga boys because if you’re not with them, you’re against them.  I’m pleased to think I made a positive difference in my kids’ lives.

Further, I would go so far as to say 98% of the girls I have taught have practiced non risky behaviour because very few are now, or were, pregnant.

Claire: How do you know this?

Sah: Well, most of the girls still live in Lamontville, studying and finishing matric.  (Rubbing his belly in a circular motion) And I don’t see any girls with large, round bellies.

Claire:  Well done, Sah. Sah, you are by far the funniest person I know, even if you say you are not beacuse you are more funny in isiZulu.  Will you take your talent anywhere?

Sah: Oh no no no.  I’ve been busy with something else.

Claire: And what’s that?

Sah: I’m studying civil engineering.  Just finished all my exams.  One more year!  After I graduate, I’m going to have my own company.  A plumbing company (he starts laughing)

Claire: Why are you laughing, Sah?

Sah: Ha, I’m just picturing myself (imagining he has a wrench in his hand, he gets down on all fours and demonstrates the motion), fixing all the pipes.  Funny. Oh and next year, I want to coach LDP.

Claire: Good to know, Sah.  I’ll make sure to tell the next person who runs LDP.

Sah: Oh and Claire, I’ll miss you dearly.

Claire: Thanks, Sah.  You, too.

Sah: Oh, and I love you. And that’as no lie.

Claire: Ok, we’ll stop here, now.

To Sah, thank you for your commitment.   Well done!

3 Comments

Filed under Global, South Africa

Tagged as , , , , , ,

by | October 4, 2011 · 2:18 pm

Bridging Divides Within the Same Programme Area

LDP and PSP participants gather after the games

Umlazi is considered the second largest township in South Africa, second to an area just outside Johannesburg called Soweto, which actually stands for SOuth WEstern TOwnships.   Thus, Umlazi is the single largest township in South Africa with about 750,000 residents within about 25 kilometres.  See this link to a satellite image of Umlazi.  Each section is named for a letter in the alphabet, from A to Z, and continuing with AA-DD, to accommodate the growing size of residents.

LDP play helps our PSP kids learn proper defensive stance

Not surprisngly, Umlazi is our largest programme area with eight primary school programmes (PSP) and one Leadership Development Programme (LDP), where our high school participants continue to play and learn after completing the Primary School Programme.  This past Saturday, Umlazi’s Area Coordinator, Sthembiso Shinga, dreamt big and bridged the divides between this vast township by hosting all of our primary schools at one venue. 16 teams competed against each other from 10-2.30 pm, each boys and girls team playing at least twice.  The LDP participants were on hand reffing, scoring, and keeping time.  The LDP participants also helped spread the word to the younger players, recruiting participants for the next level of competition within PPI-SA.  Too many times our PSP participants assume basketball ends after 7th grade (high school begins at 8th grade in South Africa).  PPI-SA recognized long ago the need to continue grooming our youth; and thus, created the LDP to continue teaching life skills through basketball.  Today, our LDP consists of four different areas and hosts educational seminars, community projects, and home and away basketball games to, amongst other objectives, bridge divides between all our various programme sites and its participants.

The day of games brought together children who live within the same, ‘town,’ though without this initiative, never would have seen, met each other, or learned each other’s name, and definitely not have played against each other on a basketball court.   Thank you to Sthe who recognized the need to continue developing the sport of basketball while creating and strengthening the relationships between hundreds of our participants.

6 Comments

Filed under Global, South Africa

Tagged as , , , , , ,

by | September 27, 2011 · 1:13 pm

Molweni LDP Scrimmages Kearsney College

Kearsney's First Team warming up before the scrimmage.

On Thursday, September 15th and Saturday, September 17th, PPI-SA’s Molweni LDP team held scrimmages against the First Team from Kearsney College. Kearsney College is an affluent boys’ boarding school located in Hillcrest, and is regarded as one of the elite high schools in all of South Africa. The school is only a 10 minute drive from Molweni, a socio-economically depressed rural area, which PPI-SA has held programming in since 2005. Earlier in the year, multiple Boys LDP teams played in a Tournament at Kearsney.

What made the scrimmage even more meaningful was that the event was arranged not solely as a community service initiative by Kearsney – they simply wanted to scrimmage against the best local talent in preparation for their upcoming season. Kearsney’s coach (and long-time PPI-SA friend), Myles Delport, also provided transportation for the Molweni team.

Molweni LDP pushing the tempo and finishing on the fast break.

The contrasting basketball styles made for an interesting match-up. Kearsney’s style is more fundamental, playing sound man-to-man defense, while mixing in some half-court zone traps on defense. On offense, Kearsney ran efficient sets against Molweni’s 1-2-2 zone, featuring quick ball movement and accurate shooting. Molweni’s team, on the other hand, is full of athleticism – its zone defense was aggressive and they were able to free up their scorers using effective screens, but they did have some trouble beating Kearsney’s trapping defense.

In the 2011 PPI-SA LDP League, Molweni currently sits atop the standings by a comfortable margin, primarily due to their unselfish play and hard work during practice. The exposure these boys received by scrimmaging the boys from Kearsney was extremely valuable. They were able to play at first class facilities (many had never played in an indoor venue before) and interact with players of different upbringings and backgrounds. Thank you, Myles, and Kearsney College! We look forward to more events in the future!

3 Comments

Filed under Global, South Africa

Tagged as , , , ,

by | September 6, 2011 · 1:33 pm

NBA’s Basketball Without Borders visits South Africa

The BWB girls with WNBA greats Tamika (Williams) Raymond and Edna Campbell.

The four courts at St. John’s College in Johannesburg, South Africa, were constantly filled with teenage boys and girls, donned in matching black jerseys, black shorts, and white, ankle high Nike socks and basketball shoes. Enough basketballs for each camper (about 85 in total, 25 girls and 60 boys), the sounds of constant dribbling, sneakers scratching the clay courts,  and balls swishing through hoops created a symphony of basketball sounds from Sept 1 – Sept 4 as the best young talent gathered to learn from the best basketball coaches, recruiters, and General Managers in the world at the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders programme.

Lucky for PPI-SA, two of our own high school girls participated in the girl’s BWB camp and were the only representatives from Kwa-Zulu Natal province.  For the first time in BWB’s history, the girls competed for four days, compared to the usual one day clinic that has served the girls in the past. The 25 girls were the best of the best in South Africa, while the 60 boys represented the best of the best in all of Africa. The talent was out of this world.  It was a constant sight to watch the young, yet towering individuals, fly through the air for a dunk or shoot a 3 pt shot as easily as one of the Utah Jazz’s best, all time shooters, Jeff Hornacek (who, by the way, was one of the many legends present at the camp, along with Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, Tamika (Williams) Raymond, and Edna Campbell).

Our two LDP girls at a PPI-SA function already donning the SA gear, as if they knew they'd be representing SA at NBA's BWB.

Our two Leadership Development Programme (LDP) players participated in endless hours of drills and competed against one another throughout the four days, with help from Tamika, Edna, and SA’s top coaches.  Players went through life skills activities, exploring gender and stereotypes through interactive activities, similar to what we teach and preach here at PPI-SA.

The talent, on both sides of the camp, was high caliber. One of our girls earned all-star status and was lucky to play on the main stage in front of all the campers, NBA legends, and media; all the BWB activities will be broadcasted on SA’s SuperSport channel as well as America’s ESPN. Our players were lucky to learn from the best, though more importantly, they have been given the unbelievable opportunity to be exposed to SA’s most prominent coaches and the world’s most famous basketball, NBA and WNBA faces. Furthermore, they, and PPI-SA, have seen where we need to improve to further develop our players to reach the status of the best of the best in Africa, not just our province.

As we were waiting for our transportation back to Durban, which lasted about ten hours inside the airport, the girls had lots to say about what they learned and what they strive to accomplish.  They knew they were surrounded by the most famous basketball personnel in the world and were receiving first class instruction, though only in hindsight were they able to appreciate the importance of their experience.  As we discussed, they asked what specifically they need to improve to get better; and not only on the court, but also in the classroom and just as a person.  One of the girl’s realized she has a hot and cold attitude, that she quickly gets frustrated, so much so that she does not get back on defense.  Yet as we were sitting on the cold metal chairs in one of the airport’s lounges, she promised she would work on her attitude and her performance in school, recognizing the opportunity she just encountered and how if she doesn’t capitalize, the time spent at BWB will have been a waste and unfair to those girls who were not picked for the camp.

Our girls, and all the campers, learned much from the best and have dedicated themselves to constantly improving their game.  As PPI-SA, we have done much to develop the basketball talent in KZN, though have room to improve our practices as we strive to have more of our players represent themselves, and PPI-SA, at the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders. In the mean time, the girls said they’ll be at practice today, even after the many hours of playing these past four days. Their dedication and hard work will pay off.

For more information about the camp, visit the day by day updates at nba.com/home/bwb/.

1 Comment

Filed under Global, South Africa

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | July 20, 2011 · 1:58 pm

PPI-NI Rocks the Whiterock Summer Scheme

Rory O'Neil and Whiterock kids strike a pose.

The successful Game of Three Halves event on July 6th brought a busy 2010-2011 programme year to a close. All of our primary school twinnings, cross-community leagues, coaches’ trainings, and residentials have ended until the fall, when we will resume regular programme activity.

Joanne Fitzpatrick and a Whiterock girl have fun during their summer scheme.

However, PPI-NI doesn’t just sit around our office staring at the wall waiting for September.  A lot of the community centres with which PPI-NI works in its Cross-Community League and Leadership Development Programme host summer schemes for the youth in their area. Whiterock Leisure Centre in West Belfast is currently running a summer scheme and asked if PeacePlayers could provide a few coaches to teach their kids the game of basketball…we couldn’t refuse.

This past week, International Fellow Rory O’Neil and Local Coordinator Joanne Fitzpatrick spent several days running kids through PPI-NI drills and games at Whiterock Leisure Centre. Games teaching kids defense, dribbling, passing, and everyone’s favorite, shooting, were enjoyed by 40 kids as young as 5 and as old 16 years old.

The Whiterock kids practice their favorite activity: shooting!

PPI-NI’s relationship with Whiterock goes back several years and one can clearly see the close relationship we have developed with the Centre, its staff, and the kids by looking at their representation throughout our programmes. Participants young and old from Whiterock attended this year’s CCL program in both the Fall and Spring sessions. In fact, the high scorer of the Fall CCL was Sean Paul ‘S.P.’ Thompson from Whiterock!  At every PPI-NI tournament, dozens of kids from Whiterock attend, not only as participants, but also as junior coaches and volunteers. Perhaps most importantly, every tournament, Whiterock Leader Sean ‘Topper’ Thompson (S.P.’s father) brings along his DJ equipment and keeps the tournament rocking all afternoon.

Thank you Whiterock for inviting us to take part in your summer scheme and thank you for being such great supporters of PeacePlayers International-Northern Ireland!

1 Comment

Filed under Global, Northern Ireland

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

by | March 4, 2010 · 7:29 pm

Activities Update: PPI – ME in Jaffa

PPI - ME coach and LDP member Heni leads a defensive drill

PPI – ME’s successful recruiting efforts in September 2009 led to the creation of three integrated teams in the city of Jaffa. These groups, which engage boys and girls ages 6-13, practice twice each week at the Arab-Jewish Community Center, a key PPI partner and host of many of our basketball events. The PPI – ME program in Jaffa is truly a reflection of the multicultural nature of the city itself – in addition to Arab and Jewish participants, the PPI – ME teams include children originally from the Ivory Coast, Vietnam and Europe. As a result, it is not uncommon to hear Program Manager and coach Tony Hamaty switch between Arabic, Hebrew, English and French when giving instructions for a drill.

Members of PPI - ME Jaffa's youngest team

Heni giving instructions for a drill

The oldest team in Jaffa (ages 11-13) is led by Heni Bizawi, one of PPI – ME’s youngest and most promising coaches. Heni, also a member of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) squad, has worked with Jaffa youth for several years and continues to impress with her strong coaching skills and knowledge of the game. When not coaching, playing in the LDP or attending high school, Heni can be found on the court with PPI – ME Basketball Operations Manager Vito Gillic’, who coaches her Israeli club team in the city of Holon.

Throughout the current programming season, PPI – ME has been building the foundation for a strong and successful program in Jaffa. In addition to regular practices, Jaffa youth have played in tournaments such as the 2009 “Holiday Happening,” and are eagerly looking forward to more such events in the spring. With Tony, Heni, and a cadre of talented young athletes, PPI – ME Jaffa is becoming a model for both basketball and coexistence in the city.

Playing "Scramble," a favorite PPI drill.

`

Leave a Comment

Filed under Global, The Middle East

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

by | March 3, 2010 · 2:48 pm

PPI-NI at 5 Action News: The Action Continues

Check in with the PPI-NI team for the thrilling conclusion of last week’s show. With Gareth Harper now at the controls, this week we take a look at PPI-NI’s Leadership Development Programme.

Missed the previous installment? Watch below.

1 Comment

Filed under Global, Northern Ireland

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,