WHEN Ballajura resident Tarai Waqatairewa first came across a group of Sudanese migrant youths shooting hoops at Mirrabooka’s Herb Graham Recreation Centre, he immediately noticed two things.
The former State Basketball League player not only recognised the enormous potential of the young athletes, but saw a raw passion for the game.
“All they were doing was playing street ball, so I approached them because they looked like they needed a bit of structure,” he said.
“There was so much talent there, and they were also a great group of guys – they took me in as one of their own.
“With the cultural shock of coming to a new country, I wanted them to play organised basketball and help them head in the right direction.”
Three years on, Tarai is the manager of the Perth Knights team made up of Sudanese talent from around Mirrabooka.
Coached by Wayne Simmons, who mentors the Stirling Senators side in the SBL, the group has gone from strength to strength with many players being picked up by representative teams in the area.
Tarai said the team was firmly focused on next month’s Sudanese National Tournament in Sydney, a nationwide competition that will feature talent scouts from several United States colleges.
“It’s a terrific opportunity for them to be noticed by scouts and picked up to go and play in America,” he said.
“But it’s also a chance for these guys, who have seen more atrocities in their lifetime than anyone can imagine, to find a sense of self-identity and self-worth.
The team is having a fundraiser at Herb Graham Recreation Centre on Saturday at 3pm to raise funds for the trip, with a barbecue, dance, and sets from local DJs.