Veteran basketball player of Primrose empowers young players
“If you are skilled, well coached and have been taught the fundamental basics the rest will come from you."
Emmanuel Cudjoenu has had an impressive basketball career, spanning two decades, and is now using his experience to help up-and-coming athletes realise their ambition by providing them with the guidance they need.
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He was first exposed to the sport at age 15 in Swaziland, coming from a soccer background.
He is the former head coach for Gauteng Province U18, played for Tshwane Suns before he became an assistant coach, and was a coach for St Peter’s Prep School for nine years.
Currently, he heads the basketball department at Saheti School and is part of the South African Master’s Basketball Association.
Cudjoenu obtained a degree in sports management from UJ.
The father of two said being a teacher and working with aspiring basketball players has always been his purpose.
“I was tall and athletic with no experience other than having watched a few of Michael Jordan’s games. So, I went in without knowing the rules.
“I got a pass from the halfway line, ran with the ball and did a slam dunk.
“The atmosphere was abuzz everyone in the audience stood up and that was something we never saw on the soccer field.
“I started to learn more about the game and reached out to a few people and this one lady took me under her wing,” explained Cudjoenu.
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When he was 19 years old, he made it to Swaziland’s U19 national basketball team, though he could not travel with the team as he was a non-citizen, he made it as a non-traveller.
He said not being able to travel with the team encouraged and motivated him to look ahead.
The Primrose resident was born in Ghana, grew up in Swaziland and moved to South Africa post-high school.
“It showed that I had a lot of talent and a great future ahead of me in terms of basketball.
“From there I started playing for a club and we participated in league tournaments and got to explore other parts of our beautiful continent.
“The experience was unbelievable. Being in another country and playing in the national league was the best feeling ever,” he said.
He played for UJ between 2003 and 2007.
They played in a couple of leagues, including the metro league which, according to him, is one of the best leagues he ever played in.
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He also played in the University Sport South Africa (USSU).
In 2008 he suffered a major setback with a knee injury and had to be operated on.
“Whenever you get a setback like that the first thing that comes to mind is if you will be able to play again.
“From there I had to focus mentally on the road to recovery, the most difficult part for any athlete who suffers a major injury.
“But I had to be strong and hopeful that it was not the end and that I would bounce back stronger.”
In 2009 he missed out on the second USSA tournament because of the injury.
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“That year my teammates declared they were going to win the tournament for me which was touching, I was very much still part of the team.
“I would go to practices, I would go to the games and it was painful seeing my teammates playing and not being able to participate but I had to be there for support,” he said.
That same year they beat Vaal to claim the championships.
He eventually went back to the court in 2010 as an alumina for UJ.
With the introduction of the Basketball National League (BNL) in 2013 he joined Tshwane Suns.
Along the way, he decided to take a backseat from playing competitive basketball and got into coaching.
He became part of the technical team for Tshwane Suns, becoming an assistant coach his portfolio was training and conditioning of the players.
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That same year they won the first national league competition.
They won it again in 2014, lost it in 2015 to Egoli Magic but reclaimed the championship title in 2016.
“My life is all about basketball it’s what I do.
“I have an academy whereby I identify learners who want to play the sport at a higher level. Some of our players are competing in the junior NBA league.
“They join and I take them to tournaments and festivals.
“This also helps our school programme,” he said.
The academy is open to anyone with an interest.
They train at the Greek Sporting Club on Tuesdays and Fridays.
“If you are skilled, well coached and have been taught the fundamental basics the rest will come from you.
Depending on how badly you want it.
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“I had a dream of playing in America. As much as that didn’t happen I believe that some of the children I am currently working with have that opportunity.
“I didn’t have that someone that could assist me and try to put me at the next level, but I believe that I now have the opportunity to motivate some of our players to become student-athletes,” he added.
He said basketball is a sport with a high IQ.
His achievements include his mentee being accepted at Indiana States University on a basketball scholarship, and another learner obtaining their basketball national colours.
