Montana Vikings coach, Shafiek Allie, could afford to flash a half-decent smile and give his players a pat on the back, following their 48-11 demolition job against Observatory-based Eagles, in the Jr NBA finals at UCT, at the weekend.
The third edition of the annual junior tournament featured teams from across the city with Vikings getting the better of neighbours Heideveld Basketball Club to set up an epic final against Eagles, who themselves had been performing well throughout the two-day competition. That is, until they came up against Vikings.
“At Montana Vikings, we believe that development is key to building a successful club. It’s not just about what happens on the court; off the court is equally important,” Allie said.
With 11 teams playing in the Cape Town Basketball Association (CTBA) across all divisions, from under-12 to senior, the most any club in the CTBA has, Allie and his fellow coaches certainly have no shortage of talent at their disposal.
However, he said, instead of just focusing on winning, they try to get the players to get the basics right, trusting that the victories will follow.
Understandably happy with the result, the winning coach was quick to commend his counterparts on the good work their coaches are doing at their respective clubs.
“Most of my boys have been together for nearly three years now, we have many losses under our belt but I’m thrilled to see them starting to reap the rewards of their hard work.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than watching the kids I coached now representing their university or a national team. It brings such joy to see their hard work paying off, and I couldn’t be prouder. It makes all the hard work we put in as coaches worth it,” he said.
Allie’s side was not the only Vikings squad that did well at the weekend, as their girls’ under-16 team, led by coach Mihlali Mpako, also won their division.
Squad members Ayabonga Jessica Noncunga and Josh Mvumbi were both named MVP in their respective divisions.
