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| Coach Carol Nyafwono, Coach Marsha Sharp, and Coach Chocho Immaculate |
The International SportConnection Basketball Coach Training and Cultural Exchange Program began their
adventure in January 2012. Timothy
Ayeet Odeke, Carol Nyafwono, Immaculate "Chocho" Nalwadda, and
Nicholas Twesigye were selected for the current ISC
tour, which is being guided by Dr. Jens Omli, the Director of the International
Sport Connection. The coaches came to
the United States for a cultural exchange to learn about American basketball
coaching. The Ugandan Delegation visited American basketball institutions such as Springfield, MA
(the birthplace of basketball), the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in
Knoxville, TN, and they learned about John Wooden’s legacy at UCLA.
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| Coach Carol and Coach Chocho observing the men's basketball team at Columbia University |
It was International Women's Day on March 8th and in celebration of that day, we wanted to feature our women coaches who were a part of the ISC Basketball Exchange this past January 2012. Women in Uganda haven’t had many
opportunities in Uganda and coaches Chocho Immaculate and Carol Nyafwono have
had their share of challenges making their mark on basketball in their country.
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| Coach Chocho Immacuate |
Chocho Immaculate has played basketball for Lady Bucks Clubs and
Gladiators in Uganda. “I’ve played in the East African University Games. In 2011, I played on the All-Star team for
the National League. Currently I’m
coaching and playing for the Gladiator’s Club and I’m a captain. On the side of leadership, I’m the president
of the Games Union at Kyamboga University.
I also play handball and soccer for my university. In my
community, I work with an under-privileged children’s program in my village.”
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| Coach Carol Nyafwono |
Currently, Carol Nyafwono is playing for the National Teams
of Basketball and Netball. She has
signed to Magic Stomas Basketball Club and plans to compete this coming
April. She volunteers with coaching
young children 9 years old and above at Crane High School. When she returns to Uganda, she plans to
continue playing and help the young children with leadership training and
encourage unity among them.
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| Coach Chocho at the James Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA |
Coach Chocho learned many things about basketball while she was
in the United States. “I learned that American coaches have patience and they know how to handle pressure when the team is going down.
The coaches on this side handle the game and the discipline of the players with
planned approaches. I’ve noticed that
no matter what happens, their teams stay together. They give care to the players."
Chocho explains that, "the facilities are very nice and they make
you fall in love with playing basketball more.
We lack basics of how to prepare the mental part of it. Here it's a
pride to play the game. In Uganda, they
don’t see people excelling with basketball so they don’t have role models. In
Westmont, I learned that most parents are very supportive and in Ugandan few
parents come to games. In my country, we
can start that."
"To me, (International Sport Connection) has
given me an opportunity and opened up doors in my life. I appreciate this program and my dreams have
come true. It’s a very good initiative," says Chocho.
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| Coach Carol and Westmont Women's Basketball Coach |
When Coach Carol was asked about
basketball in America and what she has noticed as part of this cultural
exchange she said the following, “the American players have
respect and they listen to coaches. In
training sessions, when they say they start training sessions, they keep time
by starting at 3 and ending at 5. In
Uganda, we don’t have strict time. On
the court, Americans depend on shooting and everyone shoots. They are more offensive than defensive."
Carol goes on to say, "I’ve learned that to be a coach
you have to be patient. You have to know
your players and understand them, love them and put them as your 1st
priority. No player is less than anyone
else. Every player counts and as a coach
you have to make your players your friend.
To achieve your goals and get where you want and you have to plan well
starting by planning each day’s practice."
"Learning about Wooden’s
leadership was very impressive to me. When
he talked about and teaches leadership he explains that it begins in childhood
and in parenting. Coaches can be a teacher
and a leader. A coach is
everything. It has inspired me in very
many things that I can do to make my future a better one and help others."
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| Coach Carol presenting to Dr. Omli's class at Texas Tech University |
In honor of Women's Day, Carol explains that "there were so many lessons but I
really noticed that women in America were in leadership positions. I noticed that many women in the United
States are seen as equals in society and they are given leadership positions
and responsibilities. At times in
Uganda, women’s voices aren’t heard as loudly as American women’s’ voices."
For more information on the International
Sports Connection please see the website, www.internationalsportconnection.org. Thank you to the
SportsUnited division of the US State Department for funding this incredible
program promoting sports diplomacy.
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| Coach Carol and Coach Chocho in Central Park in New York |
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