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Special Olympics South Africa athletes with NBA player Thabo Sefolosha (right), a shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls. (Photos: NBAE) |
The sixth edition of NBA Cares-Basketball without Borders Africa was held at the American International School of Johannesburg in South Africa from 3 – 7 September 2008. On 4 September, 80 Special Olympics South Africa athletes and 15 Unified Sports partners were on hand for a basketball clinic that included lessons from National Basketball Association and Women's National Basketball Association professionals on passing, shooting and dribbling. NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues around the world.
The NBA Cares project was led by the Houston Rockets' Dikembe Mutombo and Washington Wizards' Caron Butler. Clinic coaches included Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Sacramento Kings), Nick Collison (Seattle Supersonics), Thabo Sefolosha (Chicago Bulls), Jennifer Azzi (WNBA Ambassador), Charlie Bell (Milwaukee Bucks), Matt Bonner (San Antonio Spurs), and Howard Eisley and Bob Lanier, NBA Legends. The clinic was coordinated by Todd Jacobson, NBA Vice President, Community Relations, and Tara Gutkowski, NBA Senior Manager, Community Relations.
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Thabo Sefolosha shares his secrets for success at the Special Olympics clinic. |
The NBA and WNBA players and legends participated in a Special Olympics briefing and meet and greet with Special Olympics South Africa athletes and coaches. “Big Bob” Lanier kicked off the program with a big welcome for the athletes before sending them on to their stations. The athletes – Special Olympics and NBA – were split into six different groups and participated in an hour-long clinic that which included skills development in shooting, passing, dribbling and lay-ups. The afternoon concluded with the Special Olympics athletes presenting hats and pins to the NBA group.
San Antonio forward Bonner commented, “Special Olympics is an amazing organization that I have been lucky enough to be involved with globally. The athletes today were wonderful and we all had a great time. I hope they got as much out of the experience as I did.”
Special Olympics South Africa athlete Edwin Ngobeni, from Nokuthula School, said “I learned about the different throws like chest pass, bounce pass and overhead pass. I also learned how to receive balls from a partner, how to lay-up and never to give up until the ball is in.”
To date, Basketball without Borders has featured over 250 current and former NBA players, coaches and team personnel from 30 different teams who have served as camp coaches and mentors for over 1,200 young athletes from more than 100 countries and territories on five continents. |
