Long Overdue Blog

Every year since inception, the Coach in Zambia Foundation has had an annual dinner for the 12th graders after they complete their year end exams. Usually I have taken them out to a restaurant for this event, but in 2015, On October 24th, My wife passed away in a tragic accident leaving me with my twin 2 and half yr old boys. This incident occurred a week before the annual dinner which was scheduled on October 31st.

The tragedy, understandably, left me not wanting to leave the house. At the same time, I did not want to let the kids in my program down either even though they would have understood if I cancelled.  My mother, father and brothers were in Zambia with me because of the funeral and I explained the situation. We decided to invite the kids to the house and order pizzas for them. While for American’s or where ever you are reading this from, pizza is a normal thing, for these kids it was a delicacy of sorts. They deserved even more, but I was glad to know I was able to give them something they would enjoy. The cafeteria food they were used to was the same meal every night for years, so this change of diet even for 1 night had a a very small impact, but an impact nonetheless.

They ate, laughed and we talked. They shared their ambitions and goals and I gave them advice and held back tears telling them how proud of them I was. It was an emotional time for me already due to circumstances.  This class was the biggest group I had personally mentored and coached them from grade 10 through 12, 3 years and watched them grow up to be amazing young adults. I keep in touch with most of them still through a whatsapp group.

Below is a picture taken that night.  One of the Students, a great young lady named Margaret took the photo and edited it to the one below. It touched me to know she felt that way, and the sentiment was echoed by many of the other kids as well.

 

Even though I am currently not in Zambia right now, the program is still running with the help of some amazing volunteers. If you wish to donate(money , new or used sports equipment, electronics, laptops, phones, educational books, or anything at all) or volunteer please contact me at robert@redchemistry.com. If you can’t donate or volunteer, please follow the blog and share to help the cause. Thank you for reading.

 

 

Sad time/Celebration Time! (be prepared for a long post)

Its that time of year. Grade 12 has ended. Time to celebrate the graduation and moving on of 5 incredible kids and also a little sadness because we will miss them. As every year, at the end of grade 12 I would take the kids out to dinner. Unfortunately this year, I was not in Zambia to do it. Luckily, two great additions to the Coach in Zambia Foundation Coach/Mentors Francis Chibulu and Yesani Daka came aboard and their tireless work and dedication cannot be understated. With the help of Mukuni Warrior and friend Nchimunya Mwaanga and Avani Victoria Falls Hotel and Resort we organized the dinner. Francis, Yesani, and the kids went to dinner at the resort and set up skype with me so I could talk with the kids.

Mwiche Melanie Bwalya

While I missed the dinner, I was there in heart and in spirit.

Now for more good news, these 5 amazing kids got their grade 12 exams scores. All of them got 10 points or less! For those of you unfamiliar with this grading system, 6 points is the best possible score and 60 is the worse. Like golf, the lower the score the better! All 5 kids are scholarship eligible!

Yes these 5 played basketball for me at Hillcrest school as well. With Daliso self nicknamed “CP” after Chris Paul,  making cameo appearances with the Intrepid Bulls Basketball Club in Lusaka and my Mukuni Warriors Basketball team as well. While all contributed to the schools success on the basketball court, they also were school leaders in various roles and more importantly, great people!

Mwiche Melanie Bwalya

Benjamin Mbambara

Changu Hamanyati

Daliso(CP) Mfungwe

Fulayi Ngonga

As always the Coach in Zambia Foundation is a non-profit organization in need of any assistance we can get. We have been Lucky to have so many great donations and could always use more. In fact we will be sending a crate or hopefully a small shipping container with items in the next few months and donations to fill it as well as contributions to send it would be greatly appreciated. Also Yesani Daka and Francis Chibulu are 2 full time volunteers. Any items for them, money, sneakers, jerseys, even a laptop, phone, etc would be hugely appreciated. If you are interested in donating, volunteering or learning more please contact me at robert@coachinzambia.com

Please like, share, comment. Spreading the word is just as important as donating and also just as appreciated.

Another Profile of another great young man

NAME: NGONGA FULAYI                                   YEAR: 2016

CURRENT GRADE: 12                                                                   

SCHOOL: HILLCREST NATIONAL TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOL                                          

DATE OF BIRTH: 5 NOVEMBER 1998

HEIGHT: 1, 69 METRES                                   WEIGHT: 68 KILOGRAMS

POSITION: GUARD

PREVIOUS BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE: STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL AT NAMWIANGA SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR TEAM.

PERSONAL ASPIRATIONS:

FULAYI ASPIRES TO PLAY FOR ONE OF THE BEST BASKETBALL TEAMS IN THE WORLD.

HOBBIES AMD INTERESTS:

1. PLAYING VIDEO GAMES
2. READING NOVELS
3. LISTENING TO MUSIC

 

CITY: LUSAKA

INTENDED COLLEGE: UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

AREA OF STUDY:   BACHELORS IN ENGINEERING

 Coaches notes:  Fulayi has been with us since 10th grade and we have watched him grow into a intelligent young man, great basketball player, team leader and peer mentor. Fulayi like the rest of the kids is destined to do great things with his life.

Big Donation Received

6 stacks of shorts, 2 stacks of tshirts!

A lot of family and friends have been very supportive of the Coach in Zambia Foundation. One in particular is my cousin Monna Diaz. Over the past months she has been accumulating basketball/athletic shorts and t-shirts for the kids, and today I received them. Over 100 pairs of shorts and t-shirts will go a long way in keeping these kids active on and off the court. Part of the requirements for the kids to be in the program aside from maintaining certain grades is attendance at practice/training sessions. Inhibitors for the kids can be a lot of things, some of them are lack of shorts, sneakers, and equipment. Monna has greatly helped negate one of these inhibitors. On top of the that. The kids get a new found sense of confidence when wearing the new items the same way any of us do when we get new items.

On Behalf of the kids, the coaches, myself and the Coach in Zambia Foundation Thank You Monna Diaz!

For anyone else interested in donating please email robert@redchemistry.com donations for basketballs, SAT/ACT study books, sneakers, jump ropes, water bottles, socks, cash, etc

As always please like, share, comment!

Program Beneficiary Student Athlete Profiles

NAME:  MBAMBARA BENJAMIN K                              YEAR: 2016

CURRENT GRADE: 12                                      

SCHOOL: HILLCREST NATIONAL TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOL

 

DATE OF BIRTH: 23 MARCH 1999  

HEIGHT: 1, 69 METRES                                   WEIGHT: 62 KILOGRAMS

POSITION: GUARD

PREVIOUS BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE: STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL AT NAMWIANGA SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR TEAM.

PERSONAL ASPIRATIONS: ASPIRES TO PLAY FOR ONE OF THE BEST BASKETBALL TEAMS IN THE WORLD.

HOBBIES AMD INTERESTS:

1. PLAYING VIDEO GAMES
2. READING NOVELS
3. LISTENING TO MUSIC

CITY: LUSAKA

INTENDED COLLEGE: UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA           

AREA OF STUDY:         BACHELORS IN ENGINEERING

Program Beneficiary Student Athlete Profiles

NAME: MUFUNGWE DALISO                   YEAR: 2016

CURRENT GRADE: 12                              

SCHOOL: HILLCREST NATIONAL TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOL

 

DATE OF BIRTH:  3 MARCH 1999                                  

HEIGHT:  1, 72 METRES

WEIGHT: 67 KILOGRAMS

POSITION: GUARD

PREVIOUS BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE: PLAYED AT SAINT CANICIUS SECONDARY SCHOOL.

PERSONAL ASPIRATIONS:

1. MEET THE WORLDS BEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS:

1. SINGING
2. GRAFFITTI

CITY: LUSAKA

INTENDED COLLEGE: DUKE UNIVERSITY OR THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA                 

AREA OF STUDY: BACHELORS IN MEDICINE (NEURO SURGEON)

 

 

 

 

Program Beneficiary Student Athlete Profiles

NAME:  BWALYA MELANIE MWICHE   YEAR: 2016

CURRENT GRADE: 12                                      

SCHOOL: HILLCREST NATIONAL TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOL                             

DATE OF BIRTH: 5 MAY1999

HEIGHT: 1, 65 METRES                                   WEIGHT: 53, 8 KILOGRAMS

POSITION: GUARD

PREVIOUS BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE: NO PRIOR BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE BEFORE COMING TO HILLCREST AND BEING COACHED BY COACH ROBERT.

PERSONAL ASPIRATIONS:

• WRITE LEGENDARY GOSPEL MUSIC
• HAVE HER OWN CLOTHING LINE
• SING TO AN AUDIENCE IN A STADIUM
• WATCH NBA GAMES
• GO ON A FOOD TASTING EXPEDITION AROUND THE WORLD

HOBBIES And INTERESTS

 

• LEARNING NEW FOOD RECIPES ONLINE
• MAKING MODELS OUT OF CLAY OR WIRE
• TRAINING DOGS
• PLAYING BASKETBALL
• COOKING VARIOUS DISHES OF FOOD
• DANCING

CITY: LUSAKA MAKENI

INTENDED COLLEGE: PEKING UNIVERSITY          AREA OF STUDY:         BACHELORS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

 

Special Thanks to some Good Samaritans

           

 

To help in the classroom for the kids in the Coach in Zambia Foundation, we need computers, tablets, SAT, ACT, TOEFL study books, pens, pencils, etc. To help on the basketball court, we need sneakers, basketballs, jump ropes, water bottles, basketball nets, hoops and back boards, shorts, shirts, jerseys etc. Thanks to some good Samaritans in the US, sneakers were sent to distribute to the kids which will help go a long way.

Kids come to the court in bare feet, sandals, nice dress shoes, whatever they can find. Kids play in jeans, collared button down shirts, again whatever they can find. Their dedication and love of the game is undeniable. While I was dedicated as a child, I’m not sure I would have played full court basketball in bare feet. In fact, I’m sure I wouldn’t have.

These sneakers donated were impactful in many ways. For some of these kids, it was their first pair of new sneakers in their life, as second hand shoes and sneakers are the norm. Even I am currently wearing a pair of second sneakers I got from one of the local markets. Some of these kids, having new sneakers is also extra motivation and a sense of pride. Let’s be honest who doesn’t feel great when wearing a new pair of shoes. In addition to shoes, socks were donated as well and those also were greatly appreciated.

While we are far from meeting our needs, every bit helps and we are eternally grateful for each and every person who contributes.  These kids, if I achieve my goal, will go on to do great things, some already have. And your contributions will have played a role in that.

Thank you Aunt Lisa McCarron, Mary Burns, Arlene Mullin, Ellen Morin, Kelly Britton and any one and everyone else who helped make this happen.

Please like, comment, share this blog and if you are interested in contributing in any way shape or form, or even volunteering, please email at robert@redchemistry.com, please also like and share our facebook pages “Hillcrest Spartans” “Mukuni Warriors” “Zambia Men’s National Basketball Team”

Thank you all and God Bless!

 

 

A Tribute To Robby Zulu

My heart breaks as I write this and think about this, but it needs to be done.

Robby Zulu started in the Coach in Zambia program in 2013 when he was in 8th grade. He was loud, hyper, always smiling and a genuinely happy kid.

RIP Robby Zulu

 

Robby had probably the best attendance at practice of all the kids at Hillcrest and especially since he was born and raised in Livingstone, Zambia, even during school breaks he would come as often as possible. He dreamed of playing for the Mukuni Warriors someday, and while I don’t believe I told him, I shared the same dream.

While Robby was passionate about basketball, it didn’t define him as he was an exemplary student. On the same day of the tragedy, Robby competed in a science fair against other schools and students of all ages, Robby being a 10th grader came in 1st place. Robby skipped the awards presentation to get on the team bus that fateful day.

The week leading up to the accident, Robby came to me to tell me he would not be at practice due to working on the same project. As I always told him, school comes first I excused him from practice. On the Wednesday before, 2 days before the science fair and the accident, Robby came to the court to show me his project. He was so proud of it and wanted me to see it and give him some pointers. When I saw what he did I was blown away. I wish I could speak better about it, but he somehow separated a chemical in pesticides that could be used to target pest insects more effectively with less harm to plants and humans. It was brilliant to say the least. I always knew Robby was an intelligent kid, but this blew me away. I gave him a few tips on some questions he might be asked so that he was prepared to answer them. He then thanked me and went on his way.

 

If you look at the 3 pictures above, you will see Robby with Chimuka Mwinga. Like Robby, Chimuka is smart kid who also plays basketball with us. Chimuka went to school with Robby from preschool to present and has probably been hit the hardest by the accident.

On the day of the accident, I went to the court around 4:00pm and met with the team. We were heading to the semi-finals of the Coca-Cola Tournament in Monze at St Canicius Secondary School. Robby played spectacular in the first round of games which we won. The kids were waiting for the bus and the bus was going to be overcrowded so I told them to pick 3 kids to come with me to my house so that I could drive them in my car.

Chimuka, Daliso, And Ben came home with me, we were going to leave around 4 a.m as it was a 4 hour drive to Monze. While I am grateful these boys came with me, for who knows what might have happened if they were on the bus, I am forever guilt stricken that Robby didn’t come with us.

From the accounts of the Children on the bus, the driver and a teacher were drinking and smoking cigarettes on the bus. They had stopped the bus twice to buy alcohol. The driver approached a broken down truck on the side of the road, tried to overtake it without seeing ahead. There was oncoming traffic on the other lane and the driver swerved back into the parked truck. 6 students and a teacher all of whom were sleeping by the window did not wake up. Robby was one of them.

While I knew the others, not very  well, their stories are just as heartbreaking.

Robby Zulu will forever be missed. Robby died whilst holding on to a basketball. We have agreed not to use that basketball ever again and to have the team sign it and put it in a case in Robby’s honor. I plan to have a Mukuni Warriors Jersey made with his name on it. And frame it in the upcoming Coach in Zambia Offices. We have talked of doing a memorial tournament, a scholarship fund, and many other ideas as a way to honor his memory.

Robby’s teammates, classmates, friends, family and coaches will never be the same. As a father, I can only hope my boys grow up to be as good a person and student as Robby. In fact, it would make me so proud. Robby’s smile and ability to make others smile will be an everlasting memory for me and a lot of other people.

Rest in Peace Robby Zulu. We love you.

Written by Coach Robert McCarron

 

 

 

KEY WORD THIS WEEK PROGRESS,PROGRESS PROGRESS

Once again a special shout out to  Africa Impact for  the volunteers they have sent us in the last two weeks Diego Cruz, Chad De Matos, Jon Farmer, and Kelly Mc Clintock in the picture on the left and Michael Rhodes,Isabel Brown,Brianna Sorgent and Emily Herbster in  the picture on the right.It is a pleasure to have you help us with mentoring the kids,it is quite apparent you have an effect on the kids because we see them get better everyday.

Thank you for the encouragement you give them and the smiles you put on their faces,oh by the way The Coach in Zambia foundation is fundraising to build a computer lab for the kids in the program and also to help sponsor the Zambia Men’s National Basketball Team  participate at the HaiCo Indigenous World Basketball Challenge in Vancouver Canada anybody willing to support the Zambia Men’s National Basketball Team make it to the tournament please donate and or share this gofundme https://www.gofundme.com/27at57jy

We would really appreciate it if you liked and shared  our pages on Facebook, Mukuni Warriors, Hillcrest Spartans,and last but not least the Zambia Men’s National Basketball Team facebook page.

By Mr Daka