Sport
A Special Interview with Coach Akindele Peter of Nigeria
By Chris Reese
Part 1 of the Black Coaches Elite Special
Coach Akindele Peter (in white hat and green shirt) with his young charges.
If you ask anyone who the face of basketball is in Africa, I am sure that everyone would say it is Aisha Mohammed. Although I support TITLE IX, Women in Sports and to know that a woman is the LeBron James of an entire continent goes without saying but imagine being the coach: a young man with the highest Basketball IQ on the entire African continent.
Coach Akindele Peter of Lagos is just that. He is more than just a face and more than just a man. In fact, he’s the leader of a land flooded with proven leaders. When I met with him, I knew that we would have an instant friendship. When I asked about the London Olympics, he didn’t take it too well; but that is coaching. However, allow me to introduce to America and the rest of the world, the “Phil Jackson of Africa”: Coach Akindele Peter.
Chris Reese (CR): Who is Coach Peter? Who are your influences? Why should we, in the basketball world, believe in you and your coaching reputation?
Coach Peter (Coach): I am a basketball coach from Lagos, Nigeria, who has gained quite a reputation in the game. I specialize in teaching kids, no matter the gender, the basic fundamentals of basketball. I also scout and recruit potential talent across the nation along with organize basketball/academics camps and clinics to breed great student-athletes. My influences are the legendary Coach Phil Jackson and Coach Peter Ahmedu of the Dodan Warriors Basketball Program. So far I have gone on to produce great student-athletes with great fundamentals, skill and discipline on the basketball court and in the classroom.
CR: Out of all of the basketball games you’ve seen in Africa and the world, who would you say are the best in the game?
Coach: Of all the basketball games I have watched, non can compare to that of US Basketball. The national team displays excellent game coordination, communication, great skill and the greatest names in the world of basketball.
CR: You, Baseline 2 Baseline, Warlords Basketball Academy and I are on the verge of creating a never ending bridge that allows players, of any sport, to earn an American education and high level athletic opportunity. Furthermore, there may be a future for them to become dual citizens. All this could happen because of you! Tell me what that feels like and what’s your true vision with this?
Coach: It feels great to be a part of this life changing program. My true vision is for these kids to be accomplished in athletics, while attaining great academics, come back home and take African Athletics to the next level in the not too distant future.
CR: How does it feel knowing that, in most circles of the basketball world, people say you’re the “Phil Jackson of African Basketball”?
Coach: I feel flattered, in this regard, but this give me the urge to do more and work harder to take African Basketball to the level where it will be a force to reckon with.
CR: Advise me, your new found friend and brother, on how to come home to the Motherland.
Coach: Just go through the right channels with the proper travel documentations and we would be happy to welcome you home.
Chris Reese is a journalist and sports writer who is part of the writing team at The Habari Network. He is also the founder of the Title IX Networks and his blog can be read at: http://titleixnetwork.blogspot.ca