Today basketball is a global sport, where superstar talents like Anthony Edwards attract all types of fans and hype after scoring 27 points versus the former champions, the Denver Nuggets. But there is a culture behind the basketball that we know today that stretches out over a much longer distance and we shouldn't forget the superstars from the past who shaped the game in exciting ways. By Linus "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar" by Kip-koech is licensed under CC BY 2.0 . In 1891 James Naismith created the foundations of basketball. Its purpose was to keep athletes fit during winter time as an indoor sport. But like any sport, it evolved over time and created a culture around it, with new moves, rules, and most importantly new players who changed the way the game was played to make it increasingly more competitive and exciting. This article highlights two key players of the past and the marks they have left until today. Modern basketball fans shouldn't sleep on the history of this globally-popular sport and should know where today's plays came from and which pioneers deeply shaped the game's evolution. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar In the 1960s Abdul-Jabbar was able to lead his college team, the UCLA Bruins, to 71 consecutive wins under head coach John Wooden. Of course, this success did not go unseen and was rewarded with a round 1 pick by NBA team the L.A Lakers. Jabbar quickly led them to 6 NBA championships and earned himself the MVP award 6 times. But what makes these records even more remarkable is that he was diagnosed with leukemia which led to regular check ups and blood level appointments. As well as winning multiple titles, he was able to create some of the most popular moves in modern basketball. He not only invented the sky hook but was also to use it so efficiently that no defender could beat him. His spectacular style in the air then later influenced future basketball legends such as Michael Jordan. Bill Russell Back in 1955 Bill Russell was able to lead his team, the San Francisco Dons, to an NCAA championship, before being rewarded with a round 2 pick for NBA team St. Louis Hawks (now the Atlanta Hawks). He was so impressive that he was soon traded to a much higher level team: the Boston Celtics, where he was able to lead them to their first ever NBA championship in 1957. This was just the beginning of an incredible Celtics dynasty, where they won 11 out of 13 NBA championships from 1957-1969. He was also voted MVP 5 times during this period. Russell is seen as the best defensive player of all time, making rebounding and blocking a much more dominant part of the game and averaging at least 6 blocks a game. "Bill Russell" by Kip-koech is licensed under CC BY 2.0 . But this was not the end to his career as he proceeded to become the head coach of the Sacramento Kings and the Seattle Super Sonics, where he was able to get 2 NBA championships as head coach. Russell's iconic status is highlighted in the Netflix documentary Bill Russell: Legend, where we can learn not only about his playing and management successes, but also about his work as a civil rights activist. The fact is that although basketball has many great players playing today, the game was mostly shaped by past legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell. Unfortunately, we will never be able to see the different generations play against each other to see who would win out. But we can still watch clips of the past and enjoy seeing the game change into the future, Maybe one day new stars like Anthony Edwards might also make it to the Basketball Hall of Fame and we can say we were there when they came up.
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How is it possible that one of the greatest strikers in the modern game has still not won a club or country trophy? Welcome to the curse of Harry Kane. By Gonçalo and Malcolm "Harry Kane 2022 World Cup (cropped)" by حسین ظهروند Hossein Zohrevand is licensed under CC BY 4.0 . We can all agree that Harry Kane is a phenomenal player, but he has never won a single trophy at the age of 30 years old, losing in 5 different finals for Tottenham and England. He has now gone to Bayern Munich and it was almost certain for him to win a trophy as he was joining a club that had won the league title 11 times in a row. 11! Success was basically guaranteed. Except that it looks like the Curse of Kane has followed the England striker to Germany. They have already lost every possible competition and their 11 year Bundesliga win streak. This week's defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final made sure that Harry's team trophy cabinet remains empty for another season. Individually, Kane has achieved incredible feats. He is the second all time top scorer in the Premier League after Alan Shearer and has won the World Cup golden boot. He has been deadly in front of goal for a decade, scoring over 350 goals for his clubs and country. Has there ever been a player before whose personal and team records are so different? And he has been so close so many times, for example when Spurs lost the Champions League final to Liverpool in 2019 or when England lost at home to Italy in the Euro 2020 final. Should they have just dropped the striker? Would they be looking back on glory if they had? Fast forward to the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar and many blamed Kane again as England got eliminated by France in the quarter finals after missing a penalty late in the game (not just missing it, but booting it into outer space). Some even say Kane shouldn't be a starter for this summer's Euro 2024. England team. Will he be a substitute because of his curse, even though he is undisputedly one of the best strikers in the world? England are the second favourites to lift the trophy and have a very gifted squad that could go all the way in Germany, Will Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham feel the heat of the curse when they enter the field with Kane? Kane's is not the only curse storyline in football. For example, the Chelsea number 9 curse, where some of the biggest strikers in the world come to Chelsea and when they wear the number 9 they start playing extremely badly. Or the PSG curse, where the French club have done everything possible to win the Champions League and still have not managed it, even with a team containing Neymar, Mbappe and the legendary Lionel Messi. Just this week they have been knocked out at the semi-final stage against a Dortmund team they were favourites against. Or the Man United curse, where ever single manager after Alex Ferguson lost has ended up as a disaster, just like Erik Ten Haag this season. There are certainly lots of curses but none like the Harry Kane curse. What marks this one out is that he has gone to a club which guaranteed success and instead Bayer Leverkusen have won their first ever Bundesliga title and Borussia Dortmund have reached the Champions League final! So, will Harry Kane finally win a trophy? Will the curse be broken or will one of the greatest strikers of this generation end his career without any team silverware? Let's tune into the Euros this summer and watch the next chapter of this amazing story. From winning World Cups to losing qualifiers, the decline of West Indies cricket is a sad story in the Caribbean. By Ameet "Two views of Chris Gayle" by It's No Game is licensed under CC BY 2.0 . Sir Vivian Richards, Brian Lara, Chris Gayle. These are legendary names in cricket history and, apart from being brilliant players, they also have in common that they represented the West Indies (Windies) cricket team. The West Indies are a group of crescent-shaped islands situated in the Caribbean. They separate the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north. And once this isolated location in the middle of the ocean was the centre of global cricket. West Indies was one of the first teams to be part of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as they joined in 1928. They had a slow start, but after some time they eventually won two ODI world cups in a row and became a major force in the sport. One Day International (ODI) World Cups are held only once every four years and the Windies won two in a row in 1975 and 1979. And there was a time from the mid-late 1970s to the early 1990s when they were the best team in the world, leading the pack with an aggressive, vibrant style. The 2010 documentary Fire in Babylon explores their rise to the top of the game. Years later, the West Indies also won the T20 World Cup twice and the Champions Trophy once respectively, including a final over thriller in the 2016 T20 World Cup. After these T20 World Cup wins though, the West Indies have either finished at the bottom of the points table or not even qualified for World Cups. One main headline being that they didn’t qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup. The two main causes of this recent decline are: Poor management skills: The board for West Indies cricket does not seem to manage their team effectively. For example, the players didn’t play any ODIs before the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifier making them rusty, which meant that they could not perform to their fullest potential. A lack of stability: The board for West Indies cricket keeps on changing team selections, making the players and the staff frustrated as well as confused. This frustration causes players to experience a lack of concentration and form. This decline has really affected the quality of cricket that the Windies are playing as they don’t even win qualifiers anymore. However, they can turn their fortunes around as they are hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup on home soil along with the USA. This will be a great opportunity for them to get back to winning ways as they have home advantage. Let's see if they can bring back the heyday and light some more fires in the Carribean and worldwide. Works Cited: Indiagk.net. “West Indies Wins T20 World Cup 2016.” Indiagk.net, 4 Apr. 2016, www.indiagk.net/2016/04/west-indies-wins-t20-world-cup-2016.html. Accessed 2 May 2024. Sky Sports. “West Indies Fail to Qualify for World Cup for First Time after Scotland Humbling.” Sky Sports, 1 July 2023, www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12912862/west-indies-fail-to-qualify-for-world-cup-for-first-time-after-scotland-humbling. Accessed 2 May 2024. Sportica. “The Downfall of West Indies Cricket.” Www.youtube.com, 27 Feb. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVaEGUm2cks. Accessed 2 May 2024. Wikipedia Contributors. “West Indies.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Jan. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Indies. Accessed 2 May 2024. ZeTo49. “On This Day in 1975 - This Invincible West Indies Side Lifted the Inaugural ODI World Cup, Beating Australia in the Final by 19 Runs.” Reddit, 21 June 2017, www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/6im6y6/on_this_day_in_1975_this_invincible_west_indies/?rdt=45291. Accessed 2 May 2024. Why aren't the Paralympics seen as being on a par with the "real" Olympics? By Ama Richard Gillin from St Albans, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons You’ve almost certainly watched the Olympic Games, but what about the Paralympic Games? The Paralympics is an international sports competition for athletes with disabilities. An interesting fact is the prefix “para” means “parallel” or side by side. But let’s be honest: the Paralympics are not side by side with what people might consider to the "real" Olympics. For example, in 2020 15.5 million people watched the Olympic Games every single night, while only 14 million watched the entire Paralympics Games. The Paralympics happen every four years and host many of the same events as the Olympics, such as alpine skiing, cross country skiing, and many more sports. The Games started in 1948 as a competition for injured service people in wheelchairs and now include athletes with many categories of disability, such as limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or vision impairment. This year the Games will be hosted in Paris, France and will see athletes in 22 different sports compete against each other in over 500 events, making it the biggest Paralympics ever. Sports like badminton and taekwondo only made their debut four years ago, so things are always changing in the exciting world of adaptive sports. There are many talented athletes that have competed in the Paralympics. For example, Joo Jennog-hun, who is missing his right hand, won a bronze medal in Taekwondo at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Also, Alia Issa, who contracted smallpox as a child and has a hard time balancing, was the first woman para athlete to compete in the 2020 Refugee Team in the women’s club throw event. Meanwhile, Abbas Karimi was born without arms and is a competitive swimmer after moving to the US from Afghanistan. While Hope Gordon was the first ever British female para nordic skier. She was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and had to have her left leg amputated above the knee. These amazing athletes are making sports history and are not the only ones by far. These Paralympians - more than any other athletes - embody the Olympic Spirit. This spirit is about fair play, resilience and kindness. As Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, put it, “the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." Who embodies these struggles better than Paralympic athletes? There are many reasons why people know less about the Paralympics than the Olympics, but the main reason may be a lack of media exposure. Multiple gold-medallist Lauren Woolstencroft is one of many people who have stated that there needs to be "proportional coverage". Some people even think combining the two events could help to raise the profile of the Paralympics even though it might have disadvantages too. And why are the Paralympics so important anyway? Well, watching the Paralympic Games sends the message that people's disabilities can become incredible abilities. This can bring about social change in terms of how disabled people are seen and respected. So go put it in your calendar: Aug 28 - Sept 8. Tune into the events in Paris. As the slogan says, "Games Wide Open". Let's help the Paralympics make society more open for all of us.
Rock climbing is an ever-evolving sport that has captured imaginations around the world, and become one of the most popular extreme sports over the last 100 years. But there is a less visible aspect of rock climbing that might be missed by observers of the sport: the culture that has been built up around it. A culture that has inspired and given a sense of belonging to people around the world for generations.
By Jaya
As an avid climber, I decided to explore this culture for my Personal Project. I wanted to consider more deeply what it is about climbing that people like myself find so compelling and empowering.
The short film I produced explores what it’s like to be a part of the rock climbing community, how rock climbers rely on a deep trust of each other, its overall social dimensions, and how a sport is able to transform the lives of thousands of people around the world. Numerous climbing experts are interviewed from places as far afield as South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, all giving insights on how how climbing has influenced their lives in profound ways. Enjoy the documentary film below and if you want to try out rock climbing for yourself, the perfect opportunity awaits you at Roc n' Rope Adventures in Waterval Boven, South Africa, only an hour away from Nelspruit. It was Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona that made millions fall in love with the beautiful game. It felt like what we watched transcended the game. A well-oiled system with each element meticulously designed to do its part. It felt like magic. Carlo Ancelotti is the only manager to win 4 European Cups and a league title in each of the 5 big leagues. Yet, he doesn’t have a distinct style of play or system. Welcome to the opposites who both attract millions of football fans worldwide. By Atharv Behind the supernatural talent pool in Barcelona, was one of the most logical, meticulously designed systems of football the world has ever seen. Each player needed to slot themselves in like a lego piece. They would simply have to fit in or not play. On the other hand, Ancelotti picks the best players he has and puts them in their favoured positions to make the whole team function. One seeks to bring order and eliminate any sort of unpredictability, while the other capitalizes on chaos. How is it possible to have such wildly contrasting football philosophies, yet both be so highly successful in the modern game? Guardiola is a visionary theorist who fundamentally changed the way the game is played, developing and refining his concept of “Juego de posición”. Known for his possession-based brand of football, Guardiola’s teams excel in commanding games through intricate passing movements. He meticulously drills down into the smallest of details and makes them matter. He decides the system to be played in each and every game and reduces the responsibility placed upon the players, essentially making their decisions for them. He plans in such a way that he can control the game as much as possible. For instance, at Barcelona, Guardiola started Thierry Henry at right wing. However, Henry, being Henry, shifted to the left side and started combining with Messi. Eventually, Henry scored. 1-0 to Barcelona vs Sporting Lisbon and everything seemed perfectly normal. They went in for the halftime break, all happy, and Pep took Henry off, essentially saying “when I have a plan, you respect my plan.” After Pep won all there was to win at Barcelona, he only went and did it again at City, taking the Barcelona blueprint and recreating it in the Premier League, highlighting to a great extent how his system can be employed in different contexts. As he describes his philosophy: “I don't like it when a player says, 'I like freedom; I want to play for myself.' Because the player has to understand he is part of a team with 10 other players. If everyone wants to be a jazz musician, it will be chaos. They will not be a team, and nothing will be possible.” On the other hand, what specifically makes Carlo Ancelotti unique is his desire to make life uncomfortable for the opponent through different modes of attack. His teams are perfectly capable of a controlled build up through the thirds. However, they are far from dogmatic in their playing approach and much more than other top teams, they are happy to find less controlled routes to goal. What makes his teams so special is their ability to adapt to the opposition and situation, meaning they are perfectly tailored to tackle that specific situation. As Ancelotti captures it “here is something I firmly believe in, and that is if you think and act as part of a team, individual recognitions will come on their own. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." He believes in a brand of football that benefits his players the most, and he, himself, has no primary guiding principle. He is acknowledged as one of the best man-managers in the game and has a special ability to connect with the players. He simply looks at his players and finds a structure that allows everyone to be in their best positions, placing the utmost responsibility upon the players and trusting them to deliver day in and day out. "I think that trust is a fundamental aspect of any relationship, and it's no different with players", he says. "If you trust your players, they will trust you back, and that's crucial for the success of the team." Despite both succeeding all across Europe, they have their faults and are often criticized for their approaches. Guardiola has been often criticized for overthinking tactics before crucial games, which has led to some disappointing results. Moreover, he has faced challenges in managing certain players’ egos, leading to significant conflicts throughout his managerial career. For instance, during his time at Barcelona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic grew frustrated with Pep Guardiola’s management style and tactics. Playing in the shadow of Lionel Messi, Ibrahimovic exposed his discontent and clashed with Guardiola, leading to a strained relationship between the two, eventually leading to Ibrahimovic leaving after only 2 seasons at the club. On the flip side of things, Ancelotti’s tactical flexibility has also been a weakness in his coaching career. While he is known for adapting his style based on the players at his disposal, there have been instances where his tactical decisions have been criticized. For example, in a match where Real Madrid faced Atletico Madrid, Ancelotti’s choice of a 4-3-2-1 formating, resembling a Christmas tree setup, was heavily scrutinized. The narrowness of the formation left Real Madrid highly exposed to Atletico’s wide threat, as they struggled to contain the opposing wing back’s and provide adequate defensive cover on the flanks. This incident effectively depicts how Ancelotti's system can come crashing down if not thought out properly. Photo by Connor Coyne on Unsplash The journeys of Guardiola and Ancelotti exemplify the beauty of football, showcasing how two completely contrasting approaches can lead to success in their own right. Their stories remind us that football is not just a game but a platform for creativity, innovation and teamwork. It is a celebration of individual and collective brilliance, where talent, skill, strategy and adaptability intertwine to create moments of magic.
As we reflect on the legacies of Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, we have to remind ourselves that football is much more than a sport; it is a canvas for endless possibilities. Their contrasting paths perfectly exemplify the boundless possibilities within the game and will continue to do so for years to come. Whenever you ask anyone which games use a racket, they might just say tennis, but it’s not the only sport with strings (or no strings like padel!) out there. By Sohini Photo by Muktasim Azlan on Unsplash Did you know that there are a wide range of racket sports other than tennis and that some of these are incredibly popular in different parts of the world? There are approximately 35 widely-played racket sports in the world, including badminton, table tennis, padel, squash and many more. Playing racket sports has many well-established physical benefits, such as being good for your upper and lower-body strength. Besides this, they are also highly beneficial as cardiovascular workouts and do not require too much in terms of equipment. Instead of the cardiovascular workout you do at the gym, you could do it all by just playing racket sports, which also enable people to socialize through healthy competition. A recent study conducted by Harvard revealed that from 80,306 people ranging from 20 to 98, those who regularly played racket sports were 47% less likely to die of any cause and 56% less likely to die of cardiovascular disease. It is quite incredible that racket sports can be so good for us both mentally and physically. And they are already bigger hitters than we might think. Did you know, for example, that badminton is recognized as the world’s fastest sport as the shuttlecocks can reach speeds of 493 km/h, which is faster than any other object in sports? Or that badminton is the second most popular participation sport in the world after football/soccer? Or that Padel is already more popular than tennis in Spain? Photo by Tomasz Krawczyk on Unsplash When I was 6 or 7 years old I started playing badminton. It was hard at first as I kept on missing shots each and every time. But I kept on practicing with my parents for years and years until I got better at it. I can now shoot high and low with accuracy. Even the world famous Lin Dan who has won the World Championships 5 times had to practice for decades so that he could reach an advanced level. To play badminton, players require a balance of hand-eye coordination, speed, agility and endurance. Some basic skills needed to play it are stance, backhand, forehand, serving and an effective racket grip.
And If you would like to learn padel then you can visit Padel Maputo for further information. It is next to AISM, just behind the race track and not far from Baia mall. Padel is basically a racket sport which is played as a doubles game on an enclosed court. It is a cross of badminton and squash where the ball can bounce off the surfaces around the courts. How lucky we are that such a wide variety of racket sports were invented from the 18th century onwards. There is something for everyone; those who don't want to play tennis can play badminton or people who don't want to play badminton, tennis or padel can play table tennis. With all this choice and with so many benefits, it might be time for you to take a swing at racket sports. What is it about swimming that makes the water our second home? By Maria They called up my name to the swimming area. I couldn’t back out now. My intense feelings were rumbling in my stomach. “200 meters, now thats a lot", they said. It made me want to cry. But when the first whistle was blown, I had to jump in the water and get into backstroke position. No choice. Focus. “ON YOUR MARKS!” and the whistle was blown again. I swam away fast and made it out. How could all of those feelings go away as soon as I completed my first stroke. How could it all flow again so quickly? What is it about swimming that helped me get rid of all my nerves in a split second and just focus on the feeling of my body in the water, flowing with the tide? How was I able to gain strength so quickly? Coach Guideon, who mentors the ISSEA swim teams, sees swimming as far more than just a sport. "Having been a swimmer myself, I experienced its transformative power", he says. "My personal connection with swimming began as a source of joy and self-discovery. I not only enjoyed the physical aspect but also found that swimming played a pivotal role in shaping my character. It taught me resilience, time management, and how to navigate life's challenges. Swimming became a guiding force, helping me organize my life and prioritize what truly matters." This profound influence led to him embracing coaching in order to pass on the benefits of swimming to others. "It not only taught me valuable life skills and discipline, but also provided a platform for personal growth. Coaching allows me to share my love for swimming and contribute to the development of individuals, both in and out of the water. Witnessing the positive impact it has on their lives fuels my passion." Photo by □□□□□□□ □□□□□□□□ on Unsplash But when did our relationship with swimming really begin? As far as we know, it started in Egypt, according to evidence at The Cave of Swimmers with drawings showing human bodies in swimming positions. It suggests that swimming has existed since 8000 years ago. However, since Egypt was one of the drier places on earth there are still some questions and debates around this. Swimming was also hugely popular in Ancient Greece and Rome, as it was part of martial training and education courses for males. There is also some evidence from the 1st century BCE of swimming races in Japan. By the 17th century the Imperial Court brought swimming into schools which allowed children to learn how to swim. The population started growing and some babies started to learn how to swim before they even learn’t how to walk. In the 1800s it officially became a competitive sport and later in 1896 it became an Olympic sport, though at first only for men. 16 years later, Olympic swimming was introduced for women. But swimming is not just about competition. It is the fourth most popular recreational sport in the US after walking, running and cycling. 91% of Americans (31% of the population) participate in swimming. For centuries we have entered the water and wanted to stay there. What is it about swimming that makes it feel like our second home especially since we are mainly land mammals? Studies have proven that since our body is made up of 70% water, our brains immediately feel connected, at peace and feel a positive connection when we are in water. Photo by Julia Joppien on Unsplash Swimming has a wide range of physical benefits. For example, it is the sport where you gain most cardiovascular strength since all your body is working together at the same time. It also needs the heart to pump oxygen all over your body, especially to the lungs. Swimming strengthens bone health as well. If you swim for an hour you can burn 40 more calories more than someone biking for an hour. According to a 2017 study, experts have said that swimmers have a 28% lower risk of early death and a 41% lower risk of death caused by heart diseases. Besides this, swimming increases blood flow to the heart when we swim in a vertical position. But apart from these physical upsides, swimming is also highly beneficial in terms of our mental health. For instance, it boosts blood flow to the brain which can help with stress. It also helps regulate breathing, which in turn can lower blood pressure and increase feelings of calm. Furthermore, swimming is an effective medicine for treating anxiety and depression. As well as these mental health benefits, it also helps to release endorphins and serotonin. In addition, swimming fosters mindfulness. If you are competing, you need to focus on how many laps you have left, your breathing pattern and stroke pattern. With all these things to take notice of when you are in the water, your brain will have little space to worry about daily concerns, but instead will just focus on the swimming itself. Photo by Rinke Dohmen on Unsplash So swimming really has a lot to offer. And when the whistle blows again, I will be readier than ever.
Take the plunge too; you never know what good things could happen. Works cited Lieber, Dr. Mark. "What Regular Swimming Does for the Body and Mind." CNN Health, 18 Feb 2024, https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/16/health/swimming-covid-blues-weight-loss-wellness/index.htmledition.cnn.com/2021/07/16/health/swimming-covid-blues-weight-loss-wellness/index.html Overbury, et al. "Swimming in Nature: A scoping review of the mental health and wellbeing benefits of open water swimming."Journal of Environmental Psychology, vol. 90, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102073 Sinha, Proteeti. "Go For a Swim for these 6 Mental Health Benefits." Swimming World Magazine, 19 Feb 2024, https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/feeling-blue-go-for-a-swim-for-these-6-mental-health-benefits/ "Swimming: Sport and Recreation". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Feb. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/sports/swimming-sport "Where did Swimming Originate?" Simply Swim, 2016, https://www.simplyswim.com/blogs/blog/where-did-swimming-originatewww.simplyswim.com/blogs/blog/where-did-swimming-originate Wild, Dr. Samantha. "Six Ways Swimming Benefits Your Mental Wellbeing." Bupa, 18 Feb 2024 https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/benefits-of-swimming www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/benefits-of-swimming Recently, a group of AISM students and I trained and received an official PADI certification through the school scuba diving ASA. By Yuma For my personal project, I wanted to explore the mysterious depths of the oceans and the entire ecosystem that thrives daily under our everyday eyes. I decided to make my learning goal to get a scuba diving certification and then create a blog that documents my journey and post it here on the AISM Buffalo blog as my final product. Following Cora’s blog on the scuba diving ASA earlier in the school year, a teacher recommended that I join the ASA, and it proved extremely useful in helping me achieve my goal. If you would like to read more about my scuba diving journey and the steps I took to fulfill my learning goal, make sure to read my blog, which outlines my experience from start to finish. Throughout my journey, I was able to learn about the core parts of scuba diving, meet amazing people, and gain experiences that will last a lifetime. Just like me, you too can learn how to scuba dive simply by joining the school’s scuba diving ASA to start your own journey into the beautiful world of scuba diving.
The Detroit Lions almost saved the city’s sporting reputation, but even they blew it from a massive lead against the 49ers. The Pistons, in the meantime, are standing out in the NBA for all the wrong reasons. By Gonçalo, Linus, Malcolm and Valerio The Motor City Detroit has not been well oiled enough recently. Not only have the sports teams suffered major losses but also the city itself. You might know it as the thriving Motor City of the 1920s that started with Henry Ford. But in 2023 the once great city went bankrupt. It has made a comeback since then, but will it ever be one of America’s top spots again? The city’s NFL team the Detroit Lions are one of only four teams that have never played in a Superbowl. They have some of the worst seasons on record, but were so close this year to making it to Las Vegas. They were 17 points up against San Francisco at halftime, yet still managed to blow that lead to eventually lose 34-31. And not only the Lions, but also the city’s NBA team the Pistons are pushing down the city’s reputation. You might be impressed to hear that they were able to set a new record this regular season, but this was for the joint longest losing streak in the history of the NBA with 28 consecutive losses. Here are some of the lowlights of this “unforgettable” season. It might be hard to imagine that the Pistons won the championship in 2004. But if this surprises you when you see the team today, you will definitely struggle to believe that they were the greatest rivals of Michael Jordan’s legendary Chicago Bulls team of the late 80s and early 90s. That Detroit team was named the Bad Boy Pistons for their never say die attitude with Isaiah Thomas - one of the greatest dribblers of all time - and Bill Lambieer. Then there was Mark Aguirre, a deadly shooting guard and small forward. The current line up of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivy, Bojan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari and Jalen Duren might not be as well remembered as them in 30 years time. Over the last few seasons, The Detroit sports teams have mostly suffered loss after loss. The car industry will most likely never be the same as it was, but let’s see if one day the Pistons can go back to claiming NBA titles and the Detroit Lions can surprise the world even more by going one step further and reaching their first ever Super Bowl. Manchester United is often regarded as one of the best clubs in the world, but increasingly only by its own fans. By Atharv Photo by Nat Callaghan on Unsplash It’s 1999, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has just scored the winning goal of the Champions League final and Manchester United just can’t stop winning. They have won 5 Premier league titles, 5 Charity Shields, 5 FA Cups and an Intercontinental Cup in the last 7 years alone. Alex Ferguson is having the time of his life guiding United to these titles as a coach. And they go on to win another Champions League, 8 Premier League titles and another FA cup in his remaining tenure as a coach. In one of his last years as a coach he was asked if arch-rivals Manchester City would ever go into a derby as favorites. He said “not in my lifetime." Well, Sir Alex is still alive and now City are favorites every single time. Manchester United have had a shambolic start this season, already racking up embarrassing losses against Copenhagen, Newcastle, Tottenham, Galatasaray, Crystal Palace and Brighton not even a third of the way into the season. They currently sit bottom of their Champions League group and with 9 points from their 7 Premier League games, this was the worst start to the season in any of their 31 seasons in the competition. Things simply couldn’t be more distorted for manager Erik Ten Hag. Manchester United is the self-styled biggest club in the world which at the moment seems laughable. The fans are living in denial (who can blame them?), reliving their past glory. When a club is sinking, the standard practice is always to sack the manager. But is it the right answer to the crisis of Manchester United? The hierarchy, manager and players have all come across intense criticism the past few years but who is it that Manchester United fans should blame for the abysmal performances week in, week out. The Manchester United players lack coherence while playing together and seem out of place which is due to the squad being put together by multiple managers. Erik Ten Hag is the 5th permanent manager to try to bring some order to the chaos since Sir Alex’s departure in 2013. The hierarchy has completely failed in implementing a long term player and development strategy. Players like Antony, who was brought in at $100 million including variables, are often only introduced in the match in the dying minutes and have no notable contribution. Mason Mount, brought in at $76 million, hasn’t even scored a goal this season in 576 minutes of playing time. Photo by Colin + Meg on Unsplash Moreover, the possible scenario of Sir Jim Radcliffe buying a 25% stake in the club doesn’t immediately threaten Erik Ten Hag’s position but he will look for changes in the club’s football operations and management. Radcliffe’s reported inclination towards paying a substantial sum of money for a minority share suggests that he may look to influence various aspects of the club. This could potentially alter Ten Hag’s power and decision making ability as Radcliffe might have his own view of the future and look to make his own appointments in vital positions. Additionally, the appointment of a new CEO, reportedly planned by Radcliffe, could also impact the hierarchy of the club, potentially affecting Ten Hag’s role.
The frequent change of managers disrupts continuity and long term project building. This constant revolving door prevents a team from developing its unique playing style and squad identity. Ultimately, players have come and gone, the managers have come and gone but the board has stayed. The majority owners - the Glazer family - are deeply unpopular with United fans for the way they have leveraged the club to pay off their debts and seem to be fine with the club being no more than mediocre in its on-field performances. Ultimately, it is through decades and decades of mismanagement that the future of such a historical club hangs on numerous ifs and buts. The past was glorious, the present a mess, so what of the future? The increased influence of fossil fuels in football is slowly chipping away at the allure of the “beautiful game” and rapidly degrading our climate. by Vihaan Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash Many are unaware of the deep historical ties between football and oil companies. This relationship dates back to the 1950s when fossil fuel giants would invest large sums of money into football clubs through means of ownership and sponsorship. This is an ever-increasing practice that has continued to this day. Now, we live in an age where we are constantly fighting against climate change and its impact; be it hurricanes, tsunamis, or even drought. The fossil fuel industry is by far and away the most significant contributor to climate change. At this point, it seems a wise course of action to define some terms. Starting with fossil fuels, these are past organisms (hence fossils) that are extracted from the ground and burned to form energy sources (hence fuels). Fossil fuels have a devastating impact on the earth's atmosphere due to high carbon dioxide emissions and for close to 150 years it has been the world's number one power supply. Another important term is a football club owner. This is an individual or enterprise that buys a majority stake in a football club giving them decision-making power. To be a football club majority owner you must be ridiculously wealthy and have the financial ability to invest heavily into the club you buy. Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash Anyway, back to the issue at hand. At the moment the pressing issue for the football world is that its involvement with fossil fuels directly causes extreme damage to the environment and promotes an industry that is actively destroying our climate, yet it has spurred efforts to remove oil companies from the beautiful game. Firstly, by partnering with fossil fuel companies the football world is actively playing a role in deteriorating the climate. A prime example of this is the environmental impact of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Considered by some to be the best World Cup in recent history it was also the World Cup with the highest amount of carbon emissions. To be financially capable of hosting the tournament, Qatar sold around three billion barrels of crude oil which is equivalent to 928 million metric tons of carbon emissions. That figure is nearly impossible to wrap your mind around, but in an attempt to make the number comprehensible 928 million metric tons of emissions is what 201 million cars produce annually. If major football organizations such as FIFA continue to select oil-reliant states like Qatar to host major tournaments then it negates years of work to reduce global carbon emissions. Moreover, is the cost of an entertaining World Cup worth close to a billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions? Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash Another key negative ramification of fossil fuels being involved with football is that it promotes a harmful industry. Now in the past, the tobacco industry was a big sponsor of various sports including football. Nevertheless, when it became apparent that smoking was a dangerous activity that caused irreversible damage to the lungs it was not long before tobacco was booted out of sports. Similarly, it is well-documented that fossil fuels are detrimental to our climate. Yet, there has been no apparent action by footballing entities to remove the oil and gas industry permanently. Instead of combating climate change, the world's largest football league the Premier League in January 2022 announced its new partnership with Castrol Lubricants, a subsidiary of BP. According to Reuters, BP recorded a 28 billion dollar profit in 2022, contradicting claims of attempts to reduce oil and gas production by 2030. Furthermore, the Athletic received a statement from the Premier League stating that “The Premier League recognizes the need to take action on climate change and is committed to reducing its overall climate impact” which highlights the hypocrisy of footballing bodies. A claim to tackle climate change cannot be followed by a new partnership with one of the most prominent companies in the industry most responsible for the climate crisis. Without serious commitment from associations like the Premier League the football community can not say that they are dedicated to aiding the environment. Now, some may argue that owning football clubs gives little direct financial profit to fossil companies; therefore, they actually lose money by sponsoring teams. Whilst this point holds truth it does take into account the entire complexity of sponsorship deals. In reality, sponsoring a football club or in some cases a football competition means that the sponsor gains global recognition by way of shirt sponsoring, billboards, or even the name of a stadium. The most famous example would have to be the UEFA Champions League and Russian oil giant Gazprom. For years Europe's most prestigious football competition was sponsored by one of the most destructive oil companies; in addition to damaging the environment, it also has close ties with the authoritarian Putin regime. Even if a sponsor receives no direct profit from owning a club it still can promote its harmful image and gain public favor. Photo by Dima Solomin on Unsplash Despite the strong influence of fossil fuels in the football industry, there is a shimmer of hope. There have been countless clubs that are unshackling the beautiful game from the dark bonds of oil and gas companies. The most inspiring example is the case of Forest Green Rovers, a club in the fourth division of English football. The United Nations has even applauded the efforts of this club to reduce their Carbon footprint. The club runs solely on renewable energy and recycles eight percent of all water supply used. This also has a knock-on effect on the fans who have begun using electric vehicles and living sustainable lives. Since 2011 each spectator’s carbon footprint has decreased by 42 percent which is an astoundingly positive number. Is it possible for this to be the future of all football clubs? Whilst it is unrealistic to expect an immediate removal of any company related to fossil fuels from football overnight; it is not impossible to imagine a world where the beautiful game is untainted by oil. In the end that is the world that needs to arrive sooner rather than later if we want to aid in combating the ever-growing impact of climate change. Without some sort of response to fossil fuel companies in football, the game that is loved all around the world might soon become a puppet of an industry actively risking the future and current livelihoods of millions. Works Cited
Campelli, Matthew. “Would a Ban on Fossil Fuel Sponsorship in Sport Be Justified – or Feasible? – Sustainability Report.” Sustainabilityreport.com, 2019, sustainabilityreport.com/2019/05/16/would-a-ban-on-fossil-fuel-sponsorship-in-sport-be-justified-or-feasible/. Accessed 19 Sept. 2023. “Fossil Fuels.” Nationalgeographic.org, 2023, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/fossil-fuels/. Accessed 14 Sept. 2023. Goal. “Oil Money: Petrodollars, Man City, PSG & How Modern Football Is Fuelled by Mega-Rich Industry.” Goal.com, Goal.com, 24 Feb. 2019, www.goal.com/en/news/oil-money-petrodollars-man-city-psg--how-modern-football-is-fuelled-by-mega-rich-industry/k8rob5liyzrl1wr63osn57ytk. Accessed 19 Sept. 2023. Guardian staff reporter. “Football Must Do More to Tackle Climate Change: This Is How Clubs and Fans Can Help.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 6 May 2022, www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/may/06/football-must-do-more-to-tackle-climate-change-this-is-how-clubs-and-fans-can-help. Accessed 19 Sept. 2023. Mihajlo Vujasin. “How Much Does Qatar World Cup Cost in Crude Oil.” Balkan Green Energy News, Dec. 2022, balkangreenenergynews.com/how-much-does-qatar-world-cup-cost-in-crude-oil/. Accessed 12 Sept. 2023. Nestler, Stefan. “How Football Is Responding to the Energy Crisis.” Dw.com, Deutsche Welle, 17 Aug. 2022, www.dw.com/en/how-the-bundesliga-is-responding-to-the-energy-crisis/a-62837284. Accessed 19 Sept. 2023. “Ownership of a Football Club - Claims.co.uk TM.” Claims.co.uk TM, 12 Aug. 2018, www.claims.co.uk/knowledge-base/football-law/owning-a-football-club. Accessed 12 Sept. 2023. Reuters. “UEFA Cancel Gazprom Sponsorship Deal.” Reuters, 28 Feb. 2022, www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/uefa-cancel-gazprom-sponsorship-deal-source-2022-02-28/. Accessed 12 Sept. 2023. Thomson, Steve. “Soft Power: Why It Matters to Governments, People, and Brands | Brand Finance.” Brand Finance, 25 Feb. 2020, brandfinance.com/insights/soft-power-why-it-matters. Accessed 14 Sept. 2023. Voskoboynik, Daniel. “Fossil Fuels and Football - the World at 1°C.” Medium, The World At 1°C, 9 Mar. 2017, worldat1c.org/fossil-fuels-and-football-44cd6c216d3. Accessed 12 Sept. 2023. Walker, Ali. “UEFA Terminates Gazprom Deal.” POLITICO, POLITICO, 28 Feb. 2022, www.politico.eu/article/uefa-terminates-gazprom-deal/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2023. Whitehead, Jacob. “Exploring the Links between Football and the World’s Largest Fossil Fuel Companies.” The Athletic, 2022, theathletic.com/3747199/2022/11/06/football-fossil-fuels/. Accessed 12 Sept. 2023. “Why Is Sponsorship in Sport so Important?” Ucfb.ac.uk, 17 Oct. 2022, www.ucfb.ac.uk/news/why-is-sponsorship-in-sport-so-important/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2023. There are many outstanding players that have left a mark in the NBA and have changed the way basketball is played, making the sport so unique. For example Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, LeBron James and many more. These players motivate other junior players to get engaged in basketball not only to win, but also to experience losses and see past them as a team. Who will be the standout stars and teams this season? Who will become the legends of the future? Let’s take a look at how some of the main contenders for the NBA crown have kicked off. By Gonçalo, Linus, Malcolm and Valerio Who has had the best start? No surprise here, with the Denver Nuggets in the lead of the Western Conference. Can the champions hold their title and go all the way? As for the Eastern Conference, the 76ers are in the lead closely followed by the Celtics, who were also second last season. As for the Bucks, the champions of last season season’s Eastern Conformance, they have now fallen back into 4th place Player stats For the average points per game, Luka Dončić holds the record for the Mavericks with 32.6 points per game. On the other hand, Nikola Jokić has an average of 13.7 rebounds per game for the Denver Nuggets. While in the three point section Luka Dončić is only in second place after Stephen Curry from the Warriors. Meanwhile, the highest score for blocks this season is held by Anthony Davis from the Lakers, closely followed by Daniel Gafford from the Wizards. The teams Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an amazing team with Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Draymond Green and many more stars on their roster. They haven’t had the best start, however, with a record of 6 wins and 5 losses to put them in 7th place. This doesn't come as a big surprise since they finished 6th in the Western Conference last year with a record of 44 wins and 38 losses. This doesn't mean that they can't go all the way and steal the Denver Nuggets's championship. They have done it before! Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are the current holders of the NBA crown, winning against the Celtics in the 2022-2023 finals, with their star player Nicola Jokic leading them to the top along with Jamal Murray. They are doing a great job in defending their title so far this season. They have a record of 8 wins and 2 losses and are currently in the lead in the Western Conference. Will their star players guide them to the top of the game again? Milwaukee Bucks The Bucks are off to a slow start this season. After their finish in fourth place last season, it might surprise people if they take the title this season. The Bucks have a streak of 5 but in all they have won six while their record on losses is 4 this season. Especially after the win against the current leaders in the Eastern Conference the 76ers, they are looking promising. Philadelphia 76ers The 76ers are off to a great start in the Eastern Conference with a record of 8 wins and 1 loss. Sadly for them, they lost to the Bucks 117 - 118, which was a big upset. Their star player Joel Embiid has led them to the top of the Eastern Conference, with 32.5 points per game. Can he keep it up and take the 76ers to the very top in the regular season and playoffs? Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers have had a slow start in the Western conference with only 6 wins and 5 losses, putting them currently 8th in the league. The team roster is packed with strong players, but they base their game too much around their star man Lebron James. Sometimes they play as a proper team and win games, but they will need to do this more often. All in all, the new NBA season has already had some outstanding wins, striking losses and amazing plays and it is probably full of more surprises. What do you think? Who do you think is going to win and make the trophy theirs in the 23-24 season? We all know how Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the football world for years now. But one question we all have is, who is next? Maybe Haaland or Mbappé or Bellingham or Gavi, the list is infinite. Of course no one can replace what Messi and Ronaldo did but some of these names are starting to get serious attention in the football world. The most important question is, will they be as good as Messi and Ronaldo or - if this is even possible - even better? They would have to have incredible careers to match these two. By Gonçalo and Linus Photos by Philippe Leone on Unsplash Ronaldo Ronaldo is considered to be one of the best footballers of all time. He is currently 38 years old and playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Born on February 5, 1985 in a small island named Madeira, Portugal, Ronaldo was raised in a poor family, having to sweep streets in order to survive. Many nights Ronaldo and his family struggled to find food. But he managed to overcome this and become one of the biggest names in football. Ronaldo has played in 5 different clubs: Sporting, Man United (twice), Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr. Over all these clubs he has scored 863 goals, made 268 assists, won 34 trophies, made over 1,100 appearances, won 5 Ballon d'Ors and much more. Messi Messi is considered by many people to be the greatest player of all time. He is 36 years old and is currently playing for Inter Miami in the MLS. He was born on June 24, 1987 in a small town named Rosario, Argentina. Messi didn't have much money as his parents struggled to provide for his basic needs, which included food, school and medical treatment. Messi was diagnosed with GRH, also known as growth hormone deficiency, at the age of 11 years old. He had a hard time growing up since he had to deal with this disease. This disease was extremely rare but Messi had this disease but it didn't stop him from becoming the best player he could be. Messi has played in 3 different clubs: Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain and Inter Miami. In his career he has scored 821 goals, made 361 assists, won 42 trophies, made 1045 appearances, won 8 Ballon d’Ors and many other individual awards. Messi and Ronaldo Messi and Ronaldo are considered some of the best if not the two best players in football history. Of course there are other big names but numbers-wise, these two are superior. They have won 13 Ballon D’Ors together! Who is better is another question but they are just some of the best footballers you will ever see and we should celebrate both. They have both had different careers, achievements, highlights and more. While Messi won more individual awards, Ronaldo has scored more goals and played in different leagues, taking his talent everywhere. Messi has played in Spain, France and the USA only, but hasn't failed to disappoint anywhere. Who is going to be the next Messi or Ronaldo? As we know, Messi and Ronaldo are bringing their careers to an end and it is time for other stars to shine and prove their talent at the top of the game. When we think of the next stars, many players come to mind. Who might be some of these players? Haaland Haaland was phenomenal in his first season at Manchester City, helping them win the Premier League, the FA Cup and most importantly their first ever Champions League trophy. He scored a total of 52 goals in just 53 games in the 2022-2023 season, with 36 goals in the Premier League and 12 in the Champions league at just 23 years old. Bringing him up to a total of 8 trophies and 14 personal awards. Kylian Mbappé Mbappé may be young, but he has many highlights that make our jaws drop. Winning the World Cup in 2018 with France, scoring 4 goals including 1 goal in the final is not a bad start. He became the youngest player to score in the World Cup final alongside Pelé. In total Mbappé has scored 287 goals and made 121 assists in only 400 total appearances. He already managed to win 15 trophies at just 24 years old. Jude Bellingham Bellingham is now one of the world's greatest footballers. He has proven his talent in the 2023-2024 season, scoring 10 goals in La Liga and 3 goals in the Champions League. He has clutched Real Madrid so many times, which includes the El Classico against Barcelona when Real Madrid were 1-0 down and Bellingham scored two late goals to make in 2-1 to Madrid. Or maybe the time he scored in the last minute of the game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. He never lets Real Madrid down and continues to impress the world, becoming the key player at a massive club at just the age of 20. Gavi At 19, Gavi is one of the new upcoming stars in the world of football, with 8 goal contributions in his career. Him and Pedri are usually associated with Xavia and Iniesta, the two legendary Spain midfielders. He usually plays in the midfield or the attacking wings and uses his fabulous dribbling and ball control to dominate the game, making him a big part of the Barcelona first team. He might not have many goals or assists but manages to get the ball forward and brings a strong creative side to his team’s attack. Messi and Ronaldo have brought us so much entertainment but it is time for other players to bring their talent and skill to this new age of world football. So let's applaud the departure of the legends Messi and Ronaldo and celebrate the arrival of the new stars.
Will it be one player stealing the show, another duo competing against each other for a generation, or a group of players that we can argue about for years? What do you think? In the past few weeks there have been some intense football games between the sports day houses, which are Rovuma, Limpopo, Incomati and Zambezi. Reporting by Gonçalo, Linus and Valerio For the Football House Games that happened during lunchtime, Grade 6 was the first grade to play and win points for their houses. We personally played for Zambezi vs Limpopo which finished 1-0 for Zambezi with a chilling last minute goal by Valerio (one of the writers of this article). He scored a thrilling goal in the dying last minutes of the game. Valerio said “it was a very important game because our team was second last in the tournament so we needed points and I am glad I made them”. This was a massive upset, since Limpopo is one of the strongest football teams with many star players. Of course there was luck involved, but in the end as the ball fell at Valerio's feet but he reacted well and put it away. With this victory Zambezi got one more point for the team and got closer to 2nd place in the sports day race for the crown. The Grade 6 action was intense, but let's not forget about the Grade 7s.. There were four Grade 7 football games, with Zambezi vs Limpopo finishing 0-2 for Limpopo. Incomati vs Rovuma ended with Rovuma winning by five goals to zero in a spectacular victory. These matches counted as a boost for the sports day games and the points were calculated by how many goals a team scored in a match so if a team won by 3 goals they got 3 points for their team. The Grade 8 game was Zambezi vs Limpopo. Even though both teams were incredibly good with outstanding teamwork and extraordinary communication.In the end., Zambezi was able to get the win with two stunning goals by Gonçalo for Zambezi. “It wasn't an easy game but I am glad I could score 2 goals and give my team the win in the end” said Gonçalo. Even though Zambezi was able to win the game, Limpopo was able to get some good shots at goal. Altogether the game was an exciting experience with good assists, stunning goals, and amazing control. Come out to play or watch the next round of games in this exciting league. You'll be sure to see some memorable action.
Reporting by Tendai The Inspiring Story Of Mozambique's First Professional Surfer See our video interview with Mini here. Sung Min Cho is a Korean-Moambican surfer who is currently making history in the world of surfing. Born in September 1999, Sung Min Cho also known as Mini calls Tofo Beach home. He began surfing at the age of 13 which was quite old considering that most surfers in the town begin from a young age. Growing up with insufficient money to afford boards, he was gifted a “5,8 neon yellow wedge” from tourists who spotted him on the beach of Tofo which is not an ideal board for learning. He is now a professional surfer with large sponsorships including O’Neil and Dryrobe. After surfing for three years, at the age of sixteen, he realized how surfing could be something he would want to do professionally for a living. He proceeded to get into some research and soon discovered that there had never been a Mozambican professional surfer and that was the moment he decided he wanted to make history. From the first time he stood up on his board, he found himself becoming a surfing fanatic. He began traveling to Durban often for surfing training and while there he would volunteer for an organization named Surfers Not Street Children. As he became close with the founder Tom Hewitt he developed a passion for helping develop the African surfing community. As the charity grew, Tom decided to branch out into Mozambique and knew that Mini would be the perfect partner for this project. Tom Hewitt said in an interview: “As we grew our program to cover Mozambique, I knew Mini was the natural partner. He’s inspirational in his own right, dedicated to surfing, and super compassionate to the children in Tofo.” ( Conway, Simply Surf, pg5, 23). This branch of Surfer Not Street Children is now commonly known as the Tofo Surf Club. The club is a place where children from anywhere around the area of Tofo Beach can go and get provided with free surf lessons. There is only one requirement to join the club: to go to school. Not only is Mini growing the surfing community, but also helping children find the drive to get a higher education. If children are not able to go to school, the club will provide small lessons at the club or even help pay school fees for those who cannot afford it. I know that many of you have visited Tofo Beach or have heard of it but this is only one of the many surfing gems of Mozambique. With the fourth longest coast in Africa, Mini sees tons of potential for the surfing community. He realized that nobody in the surfing community saw what he did. Mini recently filmed a documentary called Chasing The Unicorn, with Monster Energy, about the Mozambican surf story and life. World-renowned surfers were featured and were surfing the beautiful waves of Mozambique in this film reveling in how much potential this amazing coast has. While Tofo may appear to be a sacred, unknown surf spot, there is a growing interest in surf tourism in the area. According to Mini, surf tourism can provide local businesses with a steady income throughout the year, as opposed to relying on a seasonal influx of tourists. Despite the potential benefits of surf tourism, Tofo's unique culture and identity must be preserved and protected from gentrification. As the home of Mozambique's first professional surfer and a place of great cultural significance, Tofo's charm and culture should not be compromised by commercialization. Mini’s story is just the start of the Mozambican surf world and a great example of how dreams can develop and be achieved in great ways from very humble beginnings. See our video interview with Mini here. Reporting by Alexandre After a long summer break, the varsity volleyball teams were seeking to prove themselves in Saturday’s practice game. Coaches and players alike were excited to see how their commitment to practice and preparation would pay off on the court. It was evident to Coach Jeannet that the process itself is just as important as the outcome, as she pointed out "It’s the process that matters. It’s not just about learning about volleyball; it’s about being in the game and gaining that experience that will be useful later on." Coach Kristen expressed the same passion and highlighted the value of evaluating the team's performance. "It’s exciting to have such accurate reflections on our team,” she mentioned “and to be able to experiment with what works and what doesn’t." More than merely a friendly scrimmage, this game provided an opportunity to adjust tactics and identify strengths and flaws that will influence the upcoming season. Coach Chefe gave the players a sense of direction by outlining specific objectives for the weekend. "Our goal for this Saturday is not only to win but to test ourselves and focus on and figure out the things we need to work on in the future." Winning was a very significant part of the game, but the opportunity to improve their abilities and get ready for the difficulties ahead was just as important. Lots of training sessions targeted at sharpening their abilities had been put into the preparation. Coach Chefe was sure that the team was well equipped, stating that "In general, I think the boys are prepared for the game and have had more than enough training to excel at it." The Saturday practise match developed into a ferocious fight and struggle for points that went beyond mere overglorified hitting lines. The guys displayed their unshakable toughness and dedication by working valiantly throughout five demanding sets. They were tested to their utmost in the game, yet they rose to every challenge that stood in their way. The group's enthusiasm was unwavering throughout the entire game, right up until the very finish. The audience could sense the intense intensity in the air as well, and it was clear that every victory had been fiercely fought for and celebrated. As they scored significant points, the team's dedication stood out. They were able to utilize their opponents' errors wisely, despite the fact that the inaccuracy in their serves showed to be an enormous challenge throughout the entirety of the match. Although there was space for improvement in this area of their game, their strong spirit propelled them to win, ultimately setting the stage for a season that was all about development and improvement. The entire squad was moved by Coach Chefe's words as he thought back on their notable journey. "At this stage, I wasn't expecting much from the team, but we put almost all of our effort into it, and we got results in the end."
This quote captured the heart of their valiant win and became a tribute to the group's perseverance and commitment, which had led them to victory. With their unrelenting dedication, the squad was ready to surpass expectations in order to make the coming year one to remember. It was a glorious start, and you can follow our Buffaloes journeys through the AISM sports Instagram page. Reporting by Alex and Gaia The AISM community predicts another South African win at this year’s Rugby World Cup in France. The Rugby World Cup kicks off in Paris tonight and we asked AISM staff and students what their predictions were for who would take the William Webb Ellis Cup. 32% went for our neighbors South Africa, with the next placed team being England at 16% of the votes. Is this simply bias given our community’s demographics or are current holders the Springboks a logical choice for retaining their trophy? “SA destroyed New Zealand recently and that gives me the feeling that we are hitting form at the right time”, says G12 student Daniel. It’s difficult to argue with that when you watch the highlights of the recent demolition job of international rugby giants New Zealand, where the Springboks ran out 35-7 winners. Mr Nick agrees with Daniel’s assessment, saying that SA " have an amazing pack, plus buckets of speed and power".
We will find out over the next 7 weeks whether our predictions were spot on or whether other favourites like New Zealand, Ireland and France, or even Australia, England or Argentina will take the glory. The tournament starts tonight at 21:15 with a huge game: hosts France v New Zealand. Tune in and keep up to date with all the latest fixtures and info at the official Rugby World Cup site. |
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