BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
NIU Ples Community High School in the Rennell and Bellona province received a set of new basketball kits to develop and improve the sport of basketball among youths in the region.
The kits comprised of a pair of basketball rings with nets, and balls, an air pump, a stop timer device, and a coaching board.
The new basketball kits were donated by the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation (SIBF) at a brief handing over ceremony held yesterday at the National Olympic Committee of the Solomon Islands (NOCSI) conference room at the Anthony Saru Building in Honiara.
SIBF President, Cyril Rachman told attendees at the event that one of the Federation’s primary focuses is to boost the development of basketball as a sport in the Solomon Islands.
“Under the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation’s new strategic plan, we are working towards a vision that focuses on making sure basketball becomes one of most widely played sports in the country.
“But to achieve the goals under the vision and mission of the Federation, we must strengthen our governance structure, management, administration and also increase the growth and level of basketball development and competitions throughout the country,” Cyril Rachman said.
Niu Ples Community High School Principal, Randy Fa’amoana Sa’osogo thanked the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation for the timely assistance of the new basketball sporting kits.
He said that this support will help the school students when preparing for future basketball sporting events.
“It will help our young basketball players especially towards next year’s preparation for the National School Secondary Games.
“Basketball is a new sport on the island, however, we hope the new kits will help to boost our confidence in future competitions,” he said.
Niu Ples Community High School has participated in this year’s National School Secondary Games (NSSG) in Honiara.
SIBF President, Cyril Rachman continued to acknowledge the Niu Ples Community High School Principal for taking up the opportunity to make a formal request to seek support from the Federation.
“I take this opportunity to thank Principal of Niu Ples School from Renbell province for making use of their time here in Honiara to contact SIBF and I encourage the school to work hard in promoting the sport of basketball in their province.
“Niu Ples has genuinely reached out to the Federation and has highlighted their genuine interest to help develop and improve the sport of basketball in their province, thus, SIBF is more than happy to assist.
“The new basketball equipment was provided under the equipment funding of the National Olympic Committee Solomon Islands (NOCSI), so thanks to NOCSI and congratulation to Niu Ples school,’’ Rachman said.
He also highlighted that one of the Federation’s aim is to identify and support local schools in terms of coaching and training under the Federation’s basketball development programs.
“SIBF plans to extend our development approach to any interested schools that may have interest to further develop basketball in their schools, including training their coaches, officials, etc. Therefore interested schools can contact SIBF if they want to seek technical support under our basketball development programs.”
