BASKETBALL Fiji's Laisiasa Puamau has been given an opportunity of a lifetime to further his knowledge in the sport he is so passionate about. Puamau was selected from Fiji to undertake the International Coaching Enrichment Program in the United States. Puamau is one of the 30 global participants selected for the year-long program. The scholarship is from the IOC and the US Olympic Committee to participate in the ICECP ù English-speaking intensive educational program. The program is for coaches who may not have previously been able to benefit from educational programs requiring a longer time commitment. The course is targeted at national level coaches wishing to further their knowledge from experts in the field.The participants will also implement changes in their national coaching structure through a dedicated personal project and learn from other elite international coaches who will attend the program. The Basketball Fiji development officer will travel to the University of Delaware and to the USOC Training Center in Colorado Springs later in the year for the first sessions of the program. He said he was looking forward to the trip and also extend his knowledge of the sport while getting the opportunity to work with coaches and clubs in the US. "This is a great opportunity for me although I have to stand down from coaching the Under-20s," he said. "But in the long run and by doing this program I would be able to enhance the coaching standard of basketball in the country and the Under-20s as well. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime and not everyone is given this chance. this is a great achievement, especially for the sport of basketball.

The Nasaqalau, Lakeba native has been playing basketball from 1995 to 1999 where he played in Australia in his primary school years. But when the family returned to Fiji, he donned the national colours as a fifth former at Marist Brothers High School.

Article from the Fiji Times Newspaper

09th July, 2010