Meet Arthur Ameso, 24, a professional basket ball player

ARTHUR AMESO, 24, is a professional basketball player

By KEVIN OGUOKO

Generation Next: What has basketball done for you?

Arthur Ameso: If it were not for Basketball, I would still be in the Village. Basketball has provided opportunities for me especially in progressing my education progress in the form of basketball scholarships.

GN: Were you always interested in playing basketball?

AA: Not really. My dad was a basketball player playing for the National team. I remember back home in Kisumu growing up, I would occasionally take his basketball and play football with it instead. He eventually found out and explained to me that it was meant for different purpose. He went on to show me how to dribble and soot hoops. I was in class eight then.

GN: And then what happened?

AA: I developed interest, modelled a wire into a circular shape, and placed it above our roof to act as the basketball rim. I would shoot hoops and dribble around the rough and sometimes muddy ground for fun. With the informal practice, I became rather skilled and was easily enrolled in the Basketball team when I joined High School. It also helped that I was also of good tall height.

GN: How did you attract the attention of a prestigious school like Laiser Hill Academy?

AA: At Kisumu Day High School, I was voted in the Basketball Captain when I joined form two. To lead a team, which I did until I completed school, where majority of the players were senior players in higher classes was a great honour. In form two we only managed to get to the provisional levels. In form three, however, we made it to the National Level and scouts from Laiser Hill Academy noticed my ability and gave me an offer.

GN: How was it at Laiser Hill Academy?

AA: It was a rush. For an entire year, we went undefeated. As a result, Strathmore University and United States International University offered that I join either of the university’s to pursue an undergraduate degree. I settled for Strathmore University.

GN: What do you love about Basketball?

AA: Basketball has offered a worthy distraction, thus, helping me avoid the innumerable obstacles that afflict a lot of idle youth. Court practice also acts as therapy and helps heal a lot of wounds as I get to reflect and solve issues in my head during the session.

GN: What position do you play?

AA: I play both power forward and guard roles. Power forwards play defensively as well as offensively by picking up rebounds. The guard, on the other hand, acts as the coach of the team inside the court. It involves a lot of work and following coach’s advise. I would not be half the player I am, if it wasn’t for my coaches Tony Ochieng and Sylvia Kamau.

GN: How is it balancing school and playing for a team in the Kenya premier league?

AA: It is all about being organised. I wake up at 5.30am; revise schoolwork before heading off to school. Ball practice takes place without fail each evening. Besides that, Strathmore ensures students to excel both in and out of the field. I have to write a progress report every week as part of the scholarship agreement.

GN: As a player in the premier league, do you think Basketball pays enough to take it up as a career?

AA: Well, I would say that Basketball has helped me pay my way through college. A course like the one I am pursuing costs more than 200,000 each year. Along with other minor benefits, I can well say that it has been worthy adopting the sport. The Kenya Basketball Association has also done well in promoting Basketball and its popularity throughout the country along with other private bodies such as Code Red Djs led by Dj Styles.

GN: Would you like to Pursue Basketball after finishing your degree?

AA: Certainly, I intend to continue playing basketball for Strathmore Blades in the premier league.