While schools in South Africa are on a break for the World Cup, Thanda conducted a two-week basketball camp for its basketball students to give them something to do during the school holiday.
The Thanda Celtics -- an already-good basketball team made even better by two weeks of day-long training sessions.
Melusi Cele, Thanda’s basketball coach, and Jake Masters, a soon-to-be junior at Vanderbilt University, worked hand-in-hand to give the kids the best and most fun basketball camp possible.
The training kicked off with a scrimmage between Thanda’s basketball team (the Celtics) and a mix of Thanda staff members, volunteers, and visitors.
Runnin’ runnin’ runnin’ down the half-court.
Clearly, height doesn’t always determine one’s ability to jump. There goes Melusi!
Vuvuzelas are the best cheering accessories! They are far more effective than clapping, yelling, or whistling!
Everyone played hard! By the time half time rolled around, though, the elders were noticeably more worn out than the youngsters.
Three members of the Thanda team take a seemingly unneeded half time break...
...while four members of the staff team contemplate making the break longer.
It was a close game, but the Thanda Celtics won 102 – 101. Congratulations, boys!
The Thanda Celtics go for a basket.
During the weekend between the staff-to-student scrimmage and the actual basketball camp, Thanda’s court got a snazzy makeover!
Fun fact: The orangey color used to paint the court is usually set aside for painting roofs in and around Umtwalume.
Melusi puts the finishing touches on center court.
And then the basketball boys really had to get to work!
Jake (who plays on the official practice team for Vanderbilt’s Division I Women’s Basketball team) and Melusi (who seems to eat, breathe, and sleep basketball) put together a tough training program. Going from 10 a.m. until around 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, the basketball kids endured warmups, strength training, cross training, and scrimmages. And they loved every minute of it!
Melusi even smiles while he’s doing pushups! I’m sure everyone else appreciated his contagious laughter as they tried to hold themselves up...
On Thanda’s court, we don’t have bench warmers; we have fence warmers! (OK, not really. These kids are just taking a quick break.)
By the end of the two-week camp, the boys were keen to show off how much their ballin’ skills had improved.
Spin that ball, Emmanuel!
Even Jake and Melusi were ready to demonstrate their new tricks…
Jake jumps over a very trusting Melusi to make a slam dunk.
Now all we need to do is find other basketball teams in the area that can withstand playing against the Thanda Celtics!
END NOTE: Jake Masters runs his own charity just outside Johannesburg. Please visit the Orphans Against AIDS website to find out more about the Dikatole Scholarship Fund!
I love Thanda ,Thanda has brought life to the people of Qwabe.
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Hi Thanda basketballers! hey Melusi!! Hey Emmanual!!
gosh, it is so cool to see you guys playing baskeball and having fun. and Melusi, the court looks beautiful!! I think about you often and cherish my memories of time on the Thanda court. Right now I spend more time working on my studies and teaching baseball.
Stay well! And good luck with the basketball program, Melusi (and others). It is great to see these photos and read about the basketball camp.
Your pal,
Will