ELBA goes from strength to strength
“The players have been training hard and giving it their all.”
With the growth of its ranks and achievements on the court, Edenvale Lions Basketball Academy (ELBA) appears to on the journey to success. Co-founder and coach of ELBA Byron Pinheiro said the academy’s teams are excelling in round-robin games played against other clubs.
On March 13 the academy played against Wattville Watts and lost 56-57; however, in their second game against the Midrand Heat Basketball Team, they won 38-26. Pinheiro said a lot of the teams ELBA has competed against this year are strong teams.
He said by beating them or only losing marginally it shows their strength. “The players have been training hard and giving it their all. With coaches J [Edson Makavan] and Webster Nzivimbo, the team is in good hands,” said Pinheiro.
Besides attributing the success of the academy to the players and coaches, Pinheiro said the success of the club and where it is today is in commemoration of late basketball player Johnny Domingues.
Domingues, a basketball player for South Africa, Mozambique and Portugal, died from cancer in February. He coached the Lions for their inaugural The Vale Tournament (TVT).
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“He came out of retirement for us when I asked him, and we were so grateful to spend the little time we did with him. He was a global legend in his own right and developed players to an extraordinary level.”
Because of what Domingues meant to the academy, Pinheiro said it is looking at several ways to honour his life.
“One way we have done so already is by dedicating a new set play to him.”
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