Sporting opportunities and clinics should be provided across the country – Puamau

It is vital for sporting opportunities and clinics to be provided to students and communities across the country.

Basketball Fiji Chief Operations Officer, Laisiasa Puamau, who took a lead role in facilitating the Lautoka basketball clinic says that too often, sports holiday clinics are conducted in the Central Division.

Puamau says it is vital that they provide similar opportunities in other divisions to get our communities involved, and to also assist parents looking to provide their kids with something constructive and positive over the school break.

He says having well organized sports programmes in a safe space will encourage kids from diverse backgrounds to participate.

Basketball Fiji and its member associations have been busy during the school holidays engaging with the community in growing the sport.

In the Central Division, they collaborated with the Fiji Sports Council to host holiday clinics that provided the opportunity for students to get involved and learn the skills of basketball.

This clinic targeted the young and the primary school students.

This initiative was also reflected by the Central Basketball Association who organized a Youth Challenge for the Under 15 and Under 19 categories.

The Challenge involved 17 teams, which included 6 girls' teams and 11 boys' teams.

Similar initiatives were organized for the Western division, where the federation conducted a 2-week holiday clinic in Lautoka.

The programme ran from 8am to 12pm daily and was conducted in four categories commencing with the Bula Hoops session, followed by Under 15, 17 and 19 grades respectively.

14-year-old Aahana Shaista Rohit, says she has just started playing basketball during this clinic and learnt skills such as bouncing, dribbling and shooting and it’s a very interesting sport.

The Lautoka Central College student says she is excited and looks forward to continuing learning and playing her newfound sport.

Registering 21 teams, Nadi Basketball Association also successfully hosted their first 3x3 Challenge of the year which included senior and age-group youth categories in both male and female divisions.

A referees clinic conducted in Nadi by one of Basketball Fiji’s elite match officials, Reijeli Ravitu, added more dynamics and diversity to growing the sport. The course was attended by both senior and youth officials.

All holiday programmes, clinics, competition and training courses, have an aim at engaging the community, providing a positive and safe space for all ages and encouraging female participation.