Mavericks programme to be rolled out to schools

Sisa Sihwa
THE Mavericks Youth Foundation in Zimbabwe will soon embark on a junior basketball development programme that will be run at Mzilikazi High School.

The foundation, which is a registered Trust, was established to assist the youth in dealing with social issues and teaching them life skills while developing their basketball skills. The programme has been designed to introduce youths to the sport and will coach both male and female players in the Under-18 age groups at the school.

The programmea��s coordinator Hubert Bhebhe said the foundation earlier this year ran a similar programme at Milton High school while the longest running programme in the foundation was at Nkulumane High school which has been running for five years. The foundation has also introduced the programme at various other schools in the city.

a�?We are introducing a basketball and life skills development programme at Mzilikazi High School to complement other similar programmes that we are running across the city. We are working with Milton and Nkulumane high schools among others,a�? Bhebhe said.

The foundation boasts of grooming many players, more than five female players and three male players who are currently playing in the senior Southern Mavericks teams.

a�?Nkulumane High School has been provincial champions in basketball for four years now having players that were selected to play for junior national teams. Other players that have come through our programmes have gone on to play for Highlanders and Giants.a�?

The main thrust of the Mavericks Foundation in Zimbabwe is to develop junior Basketball that will be integrated in the BBA league and groom competitive players that will not only play for Southern Mavericks but for other league teams.

The Southern Mavericks coaches are the ones who assist in training the basketball players in the programmes in schools.

a�?The programmes aim at enhancing youth skills socially besides training the sport. Schools are invited and educational themes are used to dissuade the youth from social ills and drug abuse,a�? Bhebhe said.

a�?Basketball is used as a vehicle to teach the youth to refrain from alcohol and drug abuse,a�? he added. .