By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Pakenham Warriors have taken the next step to ensuring the region’s prodigiously talented young basketballers can rise up through the elite ranks.
The Warriors are set to enter a youth league men’s team, pending Big V basketball approval.
Coached by Simo Pajdic, who played for Pakenham’s Big V men’s side last season, the team offers a potential stepping stone for the region’s young talent on their journey from junior basketball into the senior side.
With Pajdic struggling in recent times with constant knee injuries, he saw the new venture as a chance to progress in his own coaching journey. And he’ll be joined on the sidelines by assistant Tristan Blacka – a mainstay of the Warriors program.
“I’ve had an offer to coach elsewhere and I was actually going to take that offer up but I spoke to Tristan and Adrian (president Adrian Zemunik) and sat down with them and this was too good to pass up, especially in the region that it is and knowing that there’s a really strong (under)16’s, a really strong 18s, and there isn’t a 20s but there will be one next season.”
Pajdic and Blacka – together with the Warriors – have a long-term vision in mind for sustainable future success. There’ll be no quick fixes.
“It’s not just a one-year plan – you can’t do it like that,” Pajdic said.
From Blacka’s and Pajdic’s perspectives, it’s all about building a better standard of local basketball.
“Being in a growth corridor there really is no limit to what we could do with it,” Pajdic said.
“It’s not really about winning next season. If we win that’s great, but they’ll be growing pains – we’re under no illusions.
“It’s going to be tough work but with the right kids and the right structures we’ll definitely make it work.
“The natural progression is for this youth team to come in next and hopefully in the not too distant future maybe a youth girls team might appear.”
Blacka can’t wait to get to work with Pajdic and expanding his already extensive involvement with Pakenham basketball.
“Personally – playing basketball all my life and living in Pakenham all my life, to have the opportunity to work with Simo whose credentials speak for themselves and have someone like that come here and lead this side … it’s all very exciting.
“I was getting to that point where the administration side of things wasn’t enough. I wanted to do more to help.”
Pajdic said he envisioned the new program as “being a little bit more than just your six hours a week of basketball”.
“Players can go anywhere and get that – that’s not really what we’re trying to build,” he said.
“Thursday nights after practice we’ll have dinners as a team-building exercise – more of a footy environment when it comes to mateship.
“We’re hoping to get some sponsorship in the region as well, and get the team out to events in the community. We want to grow that community awareness – getting more kids to play.”
Blacka continued: “It is just a game but we want to build a lifestyle more than just playing basketball for a season, and I think that’s important.
“It’s hard to be loyal to a program if you don’t believe in it and our big message is to believe in what we’re putting forward.”
A series of tryouts are scheduled to be held next month.
For any sponsors keen on getting involved, or to find out more information, search for the ‘Pakenham Warriors’ on Facebook or visit www.pakenhambasketball.com.au.
