Basketball coach, Pat Semomo shares his love for the sport
Basketball coach, Pat Semomo (30), says the sport has taught him to be disciplined, determined and committed and he has enjoyed his journey.
POLOKWANE – The Ga-Ngoasheng native says he started playing basketball at the age of nine and was introduced to the sport in 2000 by his then, coach, Buda Makgoka.
Semomo says the sport was easy to learn and that he was familiar with it from watching it on television.
“I have always been an athlete and I played soccer before swapping to basketball. I never furthered my studies due to financial constraints. I had to look for a job after matriculating to sustain myself and assist at home but something always told me to continue playing basketball and pursue it professionally. The sport was something I did on the side when I wasn’t busy with work,” he explained.
Semomo has played for the Mabokelele Koloti Knicks’ junior and senior teams, Capricorn High School, and the Polokwane Hawks as a point guard. “Playing the game allowed me to pick up on coaching skills as being a point guard involves a player putting in extra effort to ensure that the ball stays with his/her team all the time; it is a defender position. I started coaching in 2019.”
Semomo coaches the Limpopo u/18 provincial men’s team, the University of Limpopo basketball team as well as the Limpopo Pride team.
“Spending time with other coaches has developed a deeper love for coaching and I enjoy helping players improve their game.
“Of course, with every leadership role comes challenges such as a lack of resources, but I believe those challenges are there to help one grow professionally,” he said.
He says the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the sport badly because not being able to play means slower growth and development of the sport. He is looking forward to getting back on the court, as he was not able to coach during lockdown.
