The Val-d’Or youth basketball team with their coach Alex Wamkeue (right), surrounded by parents shortly before their second match of the day.
Teenagers from Val-d’Or, aged 15, face the challenges of regional basketball. Wanting to seek more competition, they cross Quebec to play in Montreal to play matches against provincial teams. An extraordinary challenge which is supported by their coaches and their parents.
Two seasons ago, Alex Wamkeue, coach of the team, saw potential in these young people from Val-d’Or that he wanted to develop at all costs. Very quickly, Alex made the decision not to stop at the usual limits of the basketball season, convinced that to help his young people progress, it takes more than a few months of training per year. “The season begins, then it ends, the young people eat basketball and they want to continue but there is a gap of six months where nothing happens. I found that there was a lack of continuity,” he explains.
Wishing to offer his protégés high-level competition, Alex joined his team in the Basketball Québec (LBQ) out-of-school league. This circuit brings together civilian and school teams for competitive matches mainly organized in Montreal, a complex logistics for the young people of Val-d’Or. “Going to play during the week and coming back for school is impossible. We therefore group the matches together in the form of weekend tournaments,” he explains. This organization allows young basketball players to play against higher caliber teams, even if this requires significant sacrifices.
The Val-d’Or training logo
For parents, these trips have become an opportunity to join forces to support young people. Geneviève Luneau is the mother of one of the players, she explains that the whole team is fully committed to this project. “The coaches don’t count their hours, they are true mentors for our children. They give their time, their energy and create an environment that inspires confidence. » This parental solidarity has a notable impact on the motivation of young people. “At every practice, even optional, the whole team is present. They go there out of passion, not out of obligation. » Matches in Montreal have become a collective adventure for families, who gather in the stands to encourage the young people with contagious energy. “We are the sixth player,” she says.
The team wearing black and orange is already seeing good results. In a recent run of matches, the team won two out of three, demonstrating their ability to compete against top-level opponents. “By confronting them against stronger teams, we prepare them for the provincial tournament, where we aim for the top 5, or even first place. The guys are hungry,” Alex says with conviction. For him, the issue goes beyond the simple sporting result. “It’s an opportunity for them to reach the limits of their abilities, to discover themselves and to grow,” the man finishes.
As of this writing, the team ranked in the Cadet category has won its two matches against area teams by scores of 73-37 and 57-35.
