New coach has big plans for Lions basketball players

With a passion for basketball and a love for coaching, Webster Nzivimbo from Klopperpark is excited to lead the Edenvale Lions Basketball Academy (ELBA) to greatness as the technical coach.
The 35-year-old point guard was recently appointed to the position. Nzivimbo joined the academy after reading about it several years ago.

The Klopperpark resident originally moved to SA from Zimbabwe to try to pursue his basketball career.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing basketball, from a very young age. When I was a child I would leave home as soon as the sun rose and go to the court where I would play with my friends.
“I wouldn’t return home until the sun went down, not even for lunch. My mom would get so angry at me, always asking me where I was.”

While in Zimbabwe, Nzivimbo coached a variety of age groups, ranging from children to seniors.
“Coaching younger age groups was the best; they would always want to listen to you and want to learn from you.”
Nzivimbo said that coaching has become a passion for him as it allowed him to give back to younger players and the sport.
“Growing up, I never really had any good coaches or good leadership and I didn’t want that for the next generation of the sport.”
As the technical coach of the academy, Nzivimbo hopes to help develop and uplift it as much as possible. “My priority will be to attract more players to the academy and give my all to it and the players.
“I want to make sure the academy and the players grow from strength to strength and follow their dreams.”

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Co-founder and one of the head coaches of the academy, Byron Pinheiro, said having Nzivimbo as the technical coach meant everything to the academy.
“Having Nzivimbo involved in coaching allows me and coach Edson Makavan to focus on the day-to-day management and running of the academy.
“Nzivimbo is dedicated, the players are excited to have him as a coach and we look forward to work with him.”
Pinheiro believes the appointment of Nzivimbo will take the academy to the next level.

“Nzivimbo cares about the academy and that’s what we wanted – someone who fits into the family and someone who cares about it just as much as us.”