04 October 2007
SEYCHELLES : Interview with Sterling Wright - “Fundamentals and basics are the ideal means of success”
Wright, who strongly believes in the implementation of ‘fundamentals and basics of 
Sterling Wright, who has worked in 47 countries, was also actively involved in the preparation of our male and female basketball teams prior to the Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) held in Madagascar in August.
Sports Nation met the coaching instructor at the Seychelles National Olympic Committee (Snoc) headquarters prior to his departure and he generously accepted to give us an interview.
Sports Nation: Can you give us a brief overview of Seychelles’ basketball?
Sterling Wright: You don’t have a youth development program and this is a major problem. If as a child you don’t learn the importance of fundamentals and competitions, you will grow up with a lot of bad habits. Almost all the local players are self taught and this clearly shows when they compete at international level.
Secondly, there is a problem of infrastructure for young children to practice basketball. There are only the districts’ courts which even though are available to children, carry a lot of problems of which I will not go into details.
Generally speaking, I will say that the level of basketball can surely be improved if you develop the youth.
Sports Nation: You had the chance to work with the national teams for the Indian Ocean Islands Games. How would you describe their performances at these Games?
Sterling Wright: Even though they were limited in terms of competitions as well as physically and technically, the women had a very serious preparation which earned them a bronze medal. The men’s team on the other had a lot of possibilities but they lacked a lot of maturity in terms of seriousness during the competition. When you compete internationally you have to make sacrifices and they failed on that side. Secondly, in terms of preparation, they were not prepared in such a manner where you can win medals. They went to Praslin while the women went to Kenya and this show the difference. But nevertheless if they were more serious they could have won a bronze medal.
Sports Nation: How can you describe the outcome of your work with Physical Education teachers and pupils at school level?
Sterling Wright: The aim of working at school level was to show them how basketball can be fun and how children can get educational lessons such as discipline, respect and punctuality from collective sports. I also educated them about how collective sports can be one of the cures for social evils that are happening here like in the rest of the world.
I will say that that there is a new group of PE teachers who are very vibrant and enthusiastic about moving all sports forward and this can be considered as a success. Seychelles is a new country and you are still developing in terms of development renewal of infrastructure and until you have the proper direction you will not go far, but I think that with more seriousness, you can achieve a lot.
Sports Nation: What would you consider as the main setbacks of Seychelles’ basketball?
Sterling Wright: First of all, the executive committee must be an independent one. The main problem here is that the committee members are closely affiliated with clubs and their decisions tend to help some clubs and affect others.
Secondly, there must be independent bodies for making decisions which concern discipline. I remember last year during the knockout competition there were certain female players who were suspended because they did not attend national team training while on the men’s side several players did not attend the training but they were allowed to play. There were reasons for that which they said were justified but I think they were unjustified because those involved in the decision-making were affiliated with certain clubs. Thirdly, they have to be clearer about their direction. I strongly believe that the former committee had communication problems.
Sports Nation: How do you see the future of Seychelles’ sports as a whole?
Sterling Wright: You have a very dynamic sports minister who works extremely hard. We could witness that during the last IOIG in Madagascar. I think he is a man who wants action and I think he is the man who will bring changes for the best.
Sports Nation: Are you willing to reveal to us your future plans?
Sterling Wright: First of all, I will be taking a month off before heading to Sierra Leone. In fact Sierra Leone means a lot me as I was among those who introduced basketball there. We worked hard to train coaches, executive members and now they have a very vibrant league. They also have kids and junior leagues. I like to be in Sierra Leone because whenever I go there I can see progress and now I am going to conduct a coaching course so that they can instruct their own coaches.
As for Seychelles, I will come back to work if the federation through the Olympic committee asks me to. If not, I will definitely come back to visit.
R. D.
