DILI – Basketball is a very powerful thing, it can bring people together, create amazing moments of joy or give people hope.

In Timor-Leste, basketball’s popularity is growing rapidly because certain members of the community have stepped up and said that they want to help the people of Timor live more active lives.

Last year, FIBA visited the Federacao Nacional De Basquetebol Timor-Leste (FNBTL) to introduce the Federation and 17 new coaches to the ‘Mum’s a Hero’ program. The program encourages more females to participate in basketball activities and live healthier lifestyles. The program is aimed at mothers in communities who can have an impact on the habits of their families.

Since FIBA’s visit, the FNBTL coaches have already introduced over 1,000 new participants to basketball through community visits, hosted five 3x3 festivals averaging 17 teams at each event and grown their new Facebook page to 3,951 followers.

FIBA recently revisited Timor-Leste to assist the FNBTL conduct a coaching workshop for existing and new community coaches plus meet with government organisations in Dili.

"I was astounded to see the number of mothers and young women coming to the court once they saw the Mums a Hero coaches," FIBA's Catherine Grawich recalled. "They obviously recognised the coaches and were eager to take part and rival the children's enthusiasm."

The coaches workshop was conducted by the FNBTL in conjunction with former Australian Opal and FIBA Development Manager – Oceania, Annie La Fleur and saw 22 participants working in the classroom and on the floor. The workshop focused on the fundamentals and rules of basketball in order to build the capacity of the coaches to deliver basketball activity in the community. 

“It’s amazing to see how many coaches want to get involved with the program,” said La Fleur. “Every time I am here in Dili I can see the impact basketball is having on the mothers and children in the community. You can’t keep the smiles off their face once they have that basketball in their hands.”

These coaches will work with the existing ‘Mum’s a Hero’ coaches to promote the sport in the community and help the mum’s of Timor realise that they are all heroes.

The FNBTL’s ‘Mum’s a Hero’ program is funded by the Australian Government through the Asia Sports Partnership program.

FIBA