Worthing Thunder out to cause a storm when basketball returns

Worthing Thunder are starting to plan for the return of National League basketball.
Zaire Taylor in action for Thunder / Picture: Kyle HemsleyZaire Taylor in action for Thunder / Picture: Kyle Hemsley
Zaire Taylor in action for Thunder / Picture: Kyle Hemsley

They admit losing the end of the 2019-20 amounted to a ‘massive financial hit’ but they and their fellow NBL clubs are starting to plot how and when to start the new campaign.

Thunder are aiming for a big season in which they win some silverware and welcome an influx of new junior players.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Club secretary and director Sara Jenner said lockdown was dominated by players getting safely home to their families.

Alex Owumi will be a USA-based director for Thunder / Picture: Graham HodgesAlex Owumi will be a USA-based director for Thunder / Picture: Graham Hodges
Alex Owumi will be a USA-based director for Thunder / Picture: Graham Hodges

Shooting guard Alex Owumi, after his second season with Thunder, flew home to North Carolina. He was retiring at the end of last season and didn’t get to have his final game and a big Thunder send-off, which was a blow.

But towards the end of last season he joined Jenner and fellow player Zaire Taylor on the board of directors, a big boost as he will be based in America and can attract US sponsors with his contacts.

Point guard AJ Basi, who has been with Thunder for a season after arriving last October, flew home to Canada – though it took him three days to get there.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Guard Ishmael Fontaine, with the club for two seasons, has been using lockdown to do lots of working out and has been very active on social media, which is great for the juniors to see what he gets up to.

Taylor, who can play anywhere on court, has just completed his thrd season with the club. He has enjoyed the break from basketball after working solidly for ten months.

Jenner said: “A couple of weeks ago he starting doing private one-on-one coaching with juniors at local outdoor courts across Worthing and Brighton and from this week he will be having groups of four.

“It’s going really well and we are seeing new kids wanting to have sessions, which is great.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Anyone who wants to have a go can check out Thunder’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages or email [email protected] – they are looking for juniors to join a programme which already has under-12, 14 and 16 teams and is expanding.

Thoughts of next season, and how its start will be affected, are high on Thunder’s agenda.

Jenner said: “We’ve just formed a group chat with other NBL clubs to discuss what we need and how we would like to the season start.

“It’s really great to see all 14 clubs coming together, sharing ideas and working together.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Basketball England have generated a return-to-play road map and NBL division one can start when we get to level one but with a possibility of limited capacity.

“When we get get to level zero it will see us allowing more people in (most likely under the new normal). Currently we are at level three and a six to eight-week programme has been sent out to prepare us for the start.”

Taylor has started looking at players for next season and some names will be announced soon.

Jenner said: “We really hope to make this our most successful year with regards to trophies and growing the club.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve been around Thunder since I was little, now taking over along with Zaire, whose passion for basketball is passion I’ve never seen from anyone else – he dedicates so much to basketball and wants basketball not just in Worthing but England to develop.

“With our junior programme this season, we aim to expand and are looking to enter a girls’ under-14 team into the league, which I am very excited about

“We are both excited to get things going again.”

March’s lockdown left Thunder losing income from at least three games.

Jenner added: “We would also normally be running half-term camps which we have had to cancel, along with all of our school coaching having to be stopped. Hopefully we can start back up in September depending on what schools wish to do.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Overall the club has taken a massive hit and we are looking for local business to sponsor the club for the upcoming season.

“We are aware this season could be harder to attract sponsors because of the situation everyone is in.”

One bonus in these tough financial times is that the club do not own their own premsies - they play at Worthing Leisure Centre.

Email [email protected] if you’d like to find out about sponsorship opportunities or the junior teams.