Monrovia – A two-day training camp aimed at scouting and developing the next generation of Liberian basketball players concluded on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) gymnasium. The camp was organized by Thomas David Bropleh, a Liberian basketball star based in Spain, who is visiting his motherland for the first time and sees this as an opportunity to give back to basketball and Liberia.
BY: Christopher C. Walker 0777898224/0886723075 [email protected]
Over one hundred boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 18 participated in the training camp, which commenced on Saturday, June 3, 2023, and ended on June 4, 2023. Bropleh, currently playing as a point guard in the Spanish La Liga ACB League for Corivan Granda, expressed the need to help young Liberians acquire the fundamental skills of basketball. He pointed out that Liberia lacks basketball academies to teach players the basics of the game from a young age.
During the opening of the training camp, Bropleh spoke to reporters about his motivation for returning to his birth country. He acknowledged the abundance of raw talent in Liberia and expressed his hope of providing the necessary opportunities for these young individuals to realize their dreams. He stated, “This is my first time in Liberia, and I want to give back because this country has done so much for me in my career. As a Liberian player representing Liberia in Europe, I decided to come back and give back to the youths because I know how much camps benefited me as a young kid. I want to do the same here and contribute to the basketball community in Liberia.”
Bropleh emphasized the importance of giving back to basketball and the youth in order to divert them from the streets and foster discipline. He highlighted the significant role that sports, particularly basketball, can play in their development. As a gesture of motivation, Bropleh provided basketballs to the YMCA and delivered basketball materials to the participating kids during the two-day camp. Additionally, he donated a total of 25 basketballs to the YMCA for the kids to use during weekends.
This being Bropleh’s first visit to Liberia, he expressed his admiration for what he has witnessed thus far. He firmly believes that Liberia has enormous potential in producing talented basketball players. He stated, “I think there is room for growth here and a great deal of potential in the sports community, especially in basketball. I am excited to continue coming back here each year to give back to the youths because they are the future, and it all starts today.”
“After these two days, what I hope to achieve is to provide basic knowledge, fundamentals, and demonstrate the basic things I do each and every day as a 31-year-old professional athlete. These have helped me in my career, and I want to impart these basic skills in the first year. Hopefully, the participants can carry these fundamental concepts throughout the entire year. When we reconvene next year, we can build on this foundation because every journey starts with a single step,” added the Liberian international basketball star.
He further stated that the camp will be an annual event aimed at helping kids with potential in basketball achieve their dreams of playing Liberia’s second most popular sport.
Speaking about sports in Liberia in general, Thomas observed that there is a lot of potential in the country that needs to be supported in order for Liberia to make an impact on the world stage. He emphasized the need for coaching education across all sports in Liberia, stating that he is exploring ways to bring European basketball coaches to Liberia for coaching clinics. He believes that coaches are vital to the development of any sport and that if coaches are developed, players will also develop, as coaches guide players on the court.
“I hope to play for the Liberia Basketball national team one day before my career comes to an end. I understand that it will be difficult and require a lot of work. Coming to Liberia is the first step for me,” he expressed.
“I am here to help the youth because I remember when I was 13 or 14 years old, I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. Basketball came into my life when I grew up in a tough neighborhood in America, and it saved me. I want to give back the knowledge that allowed me to become a professional player, and I will continue to come back to Liberia each and every year,” the Granda player asserted.
