Belize's U-12 National Basketball Team is heading across the northern border tomorrow, to represent Belize in a 3 day basketball Festival that will be held in Merida over the weekend. The festival starts on Friday and continues through to Sunday. It's all a part of a Basketball program that is being put together by Technical officer for Basketball in Belize, Bernie Tarr with the help of his head couch - Brads Neal. 7news spoke with both men today.
Brads Neal, Head Coach U-12-Nat. Team
"We will be travelling with about ten of the members , this is about the last amount that's left from the original 60 members from Belize and then we travel the entire country coach Tarr and myself, we went to south, to the north, the east and the west and this happens to be the 12 that will represent the country."
Monica Bodden
"In Merida?"
Brads Neal, Head Coach U-12-Nat. Team
"That would be In Merida yes, Merida Mexico."
Monica Bodden
"Now tell me a little bit about what will be taken place in Merida."
Brads Neal, Head Coach U-12-Nat. Team
"Well next weekend, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will be having a basketball festival. It's also an opportunity for our kids to come, there is going to be about 6 to 7 countries representing, over 22 different teams male and female. It's a mini basketball festival and Belize will be participating in it."
Monica Bodden
"Now, I know you are the head coach for the team, tell me what is the potential for these youngsters?"
Brads Neal, Head Coach U-12-Nat. Team
"It's promising, the future for the Belize basketball looks bright. What we are doing right here is laying the foundation and the proper techniques in dribbling and passing the basketball and building communications skills, talking and do the things that we don't normally do in Belize, playing defense, using language and communicating with one another. The foundation is being built and we are hoping that these kids will be the future national team players other than always importing players, hopefully we could build players locally and have them represent the country abroad."
Monica Bodden
"So these kids are from all over the City?"
Brads Neal, Head Coach U-12-Nat. Team
"All segments, we have from North side, South side, all over the City and they are all great kids you just need to be patient, you just need to work with them and you never know, we hope that what we're training them is life skills, not only about the game of basketball but teaching them how to be respectful. If you notice with the practice everybody is paying attention, you know it's just a lot that goes in to it other than just the game of basketball. We hope that it's going to be a tool to attract them to do great things in their lives."
Bernie Tarr, Technical officer for Basketball
"Basically it's mini basketball program and its starts with ages 7 through 12 years old and it's going to be running through all the districts. We actually started up last weekend and all the sites will be up and running this weekend and we're really looking forward to getting the kids involve. I believe that when you build a basketball program, its like building a house, you have to lay the foundation first and you start with the young guys the youths."
Monica Bodden
"Is this Trip to Merida being a part of the festival over that side, is this part of the program?"
Bernie Tarr, Technical officer for Basketball
"Yes, we've conducted a satellite tryouts, what I call a satellite tryout, coach Neal and myself went to all the sites all the districts and the kids came and they had a little tryout and we sort of picked - narrowed it down to like 25 kids and we invited them up to Belize City and narrowed it down, its a tuff decision. We had to narrow it down to our final 10 to 12 kids to make the trip, so this is sort of the conclusion of the satellite tryout for the trip here."
Goldberg Samuels, Team Member
"My name is Goldberg Samuels. I attend Grace Primary school, I am in standard 6, I am 12 years old."
Monica Bodden
"Now Goldberg, tell me how did you actually became a part of this team?"
Goldberg Samuels, Team Member
"Well at first, at the first workout on Saturday I didn't know about it but on the second tryout on Wednesday my friend came to me at school and told me about it."
Monica Bodden
"Now you love playing basketball?"
Goldberg Samuels, Team Member
"I am fascinated with basketball; I enjoy it, that's my sport."
Monica Bodden
"You're ready for this festival?"
Goldberg Samuels, Team Member
"Yes ma'am."
Monica Bodden
"Are you excited?"
Goldberg Samuels, Team Member
"Yes ma'am."
Monica Bodden
"What excites you most?"
Goldberg Samuels, Team Member
"That I am going to play for my country Belize and I am going to travel."
The team of 10 leaves Belize City tomorrow and head to Merida. They return back home on Sunday.
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