2016 Comes to an end at PJB (December 2016)
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Basketball
1st National Handi-Basket Tournament
Between November 28, 2016 and December 3, 2017 Goma was host to the first ever National handi-basket competition. The tournament hosted three mens and three womens teams representing the South Kivu (Bukavu), Kinshasa (Kinshasa), and North Kivu (Goma) provinces. From November 28- November 30 each team participated in a handi-basket clinic with coaches from each of the three provinces. PJB handi-basket head and assistant coaches, Jacques Assossa and Denny Dunia, taught coaching strategy and taught handi-basket exercises.
Starting on December 1 the tournament then began with both men's and women's teams competing over the three day tournament. The tournament drew a large crowd every day as the teams competed with most fans supporting the local North Kivu team. In the end, both the Kinshasa men's and women's teams ended up dominating the tournament to reign as the national handi-basket champions. The North Kivu women's team (all PJB players) came in second place and the North Kivu men's team came in third place.
The final game was played on December 3rd, which coincided with the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This was a great event to celebrate the amazing hard work that all hand-basket players in the country are putting in, and an exciting show of the potential opportunities within communities for persons with disabilities to participate in sports.
International Day of Volunteers Friendly Tournament with MONUSCO
The International Day of Volunteers in 2016 fell on the same day as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3. Hosted at PJB's main Maison Des Jeunes location, four teams comprised of MONUSCO employees, NGO workers and PJB players and coaches competed in a friendly tournament to celebrate the work of volunteers. It was a great day of camaraderie amongst the international NGO workers in the area and PJB players and coaches.
Holiday Camps and Tournaments
Christmas holiday began on December 23rd for all the primary and secondary students of PJB. For the two weeks between December 26th and January 4th, PJB held holiday camps every morning. These camps were held across all categories of PJB players: baby-basket, youth, beginners, second division and elite. Each camp was specifically targeted towards improving the needed skills and competencies of the particular groups of players. These camps took place every day between 7:30am and 11:30am.
In the afternoons between 2:00pm and 5:30pm each category took part in a 3 vs. 3 tournament. This tournament was a great opportunity for the players of PJB to compete as they wait for the local tournaments to begin. A great show of sportsmanship and competitiveness culminated on January 4th during the tournament finals. Each championship team won a new pair of basketball shoes which were graciously given by our family at Sal's Shoes.
