Hurricanes Basketball Club dressed for success

Coach Aubrey Puppi aka “Coach Pumpkin”.
Pictured at the unveiling of Hout Bay Hurricanes’ new kit are Henry Mathys(V&A Waterfront), Roscoe Jacobs (Hout Bay Hurricanes), Muhammad Khalid Sayed (Cape Town Central and Atlantic Seaboard Parliamentary Constituency Political Head, Member of Provincial Legislature) and Amy Jackson(Hout Bay Hurricanes).
Giovanni Daniels gives the new kit wings as he attacks the hoop while new junior players look on.
Back row, from left, are, Sam Agulhas, Themba Sithole, Giovanni Daniels, TJ Wichman, David Kamutini and Junio Cloete. In front are Decklin Liebenberg and Thorne Titus.

Don’t be surprised if Hout Bay Hurricanes under-16 and under-18 squads step onto the court with an extra bounce in their step to face a visiting team from Elsies River in friendly matches scheduled for Heritage Day, tomorrow, Friday September 24, sporting their new sponsored kit.

The matches are scheduled to start from about noon at Salamander Road Park.

Hurricanes unveiled their latest home and away kit at the Waterfront’s Battery Park basketball court at the weekend.

The Waterfront sponsored the club with these two sets with the help of the Muhammad Khalid Sayed, a member of the Provincial Legislature deployed to the Cape Town Central and Atlantic Seaboard Parliamentary Constituency, which includes Hout Bay and the Waterfront.

The kit was designed and produced by Laurus Sport, in what is a first of its kind for the company, says club secretary Roscoe Jacobs, who accompanied the youngsters to Battery Park for the unveiling of their kit.

Jacobs expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped with the process of obtaining the much-needed donation, saying the kit will assist with building the club’s profile and professional look and feel. More than just playing gear, he said, the kit will add value to the players’ lives in terms of positive association and identity.

“Our teams are excited to play in this kit. This has also attracted more players to the game and we look forward to growing the club and developing the community through basketball,” he said.

The club, established a few years ago by former Hout Bay residents Natasha and Conroy Meter, has six junior teams, two girls’ and four boys’ sides and is affiliated to the Cape Town Basketball Association.

Due to last year’s extended lockdown and ongoing restriction, opportunities to play have been limited but Jacobs remains hopeful about the club’s immediate future, saying the league is set to resume in October dependent on a directive from the association.

“Our short-term goal is to have our players remain focused on basketball and do well at school this year. We would also like to host a basketball holiday programme during the December school holidays,” he said.

“We want to produce players who are not only great basketball players able to access the career opportunities available through the game but also positively active and productive members of society,” he said.

Aubrey Putti, one of four coaches at the club, will take charge of the squads in action in today’s friendly matches. Putti, affectionately known as coach Pumpkin, says his charges are itching to play. “My goal is for some of our players to attend CTBA trials and to become bigger and better,” he said. “ Thank you to the Waterfront and every one concerned about the club. We really appreciate your efforts.”

Training sessions take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 5pm, at Hangberg sports centre for under-16s and under-18s respectively.

For more information, call 072 332 7410.