Basketball academy makes big strides

The Aelen Stars Basketball Academy, based at St Dunstan’s College in Rynfield, looks set to produce some basketball stars in the coming years.

The fledgling academy, the brainchild of experienced St Dunstan’s school coach Michael Murerwa, was established in March and just four-and-a-half months later, is already churning out very competitive teams.

Both the junior u-15 and men’s teams won their respective leagues in the Mavericks Winter League held recently at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg.

The u-14 and u-15 boys are also competing in the Junior NBA Africa League at St Stithian’s College in Sandton until the end of October.

It caters for u-14 to u-17 age groups through to senior men’s level, and according to Murerwa, they hope to establish a girls team in the near future.

ALSO READ:New Easterns bowling recruit going places 

Murerwa said the project sprouted from a dire lack of adequate basketball facilities like that of St Dunstan’s in Benoni, and he saw a need to reach out to young people who do not have access to such facilities.

“Plenty children can bounce a ball, but have no place to play. In the East Rand, in general, there are no decent basketball facilities, especially in the flatlands, which limits their opportunities. To grow the sport, which is becoming increasingly popular, we need facilities,” said Murerwa.

“Based on what I have seen, there are a lot of talented basketball players and given the opportunity to be exposed to the junior NBA programmes, parents have seen the important developmental role we are playing within the sport,” added the coach.

It is generally assumed that basketball is only for tall people, but, according to the coach, while it may be an advantage, it starts with passion and commitment.

For further information please contact Michael on michael@aelenstars.co.za or info@aelenstars.co.za