In most villages, young players usually focus on rugby because it is the popular sport in the country. But for the youths of Namoli Village, Lautoka, they prefer basketball.

Their team, Bravehearts, participated for the first time in the Easter Basketball Championship at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva which ends today. Coach Waisale Tora said they decided to take their game to the next level after being playing together for the last five years.

“We decided to take part in the Easter Basketball Championship because of our love for the game and we really wanted to expose the players to this kind of competition,” Tora said. “We are trying to build a good team and I know we are going to achieve that in the next four to five years”

The youngest in the team is 13 years old and the eldest is 18.

“The love of basketball started with our forefathers and with the Chinese community. “Beside the village is a Chinese school and a big basketball court and these boys are the third generation of basketball players,” Tora said.

With the love for a game also come hardships for the players as Tora explains that facilities are their major problem. “In Lautoka, our biggest downfall is the lack of proper facilities because we have an open court and just a slight drizzle stops the game.

“We pay $7 to use the court and it is just disappointing when it rains.

“But we know we have to push for things if we want to be better at something and I would like to thank Basketball Fiji for helping us so far.”