On January 12, the opening ceremony of the Children's Basketball Academy «Astana» under the aegis of the eponymous professional team, which is based at Nazarbayev University, was held in the capital.
The official opening of the Academy was attended by A. Muhamediuly, the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, D.A.Kaletaev, the Deputy of the Senate of the Parliament, A.K.Kulchikov, the Executive Director of the President's Club «Astana», M. Mamashaev, the Vice-President of Nazarbayev University, S. Zharasbayev, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Sports and Physical Culture, V. A. Tikhonenko, BC «Astana» General Manager.
«Today, we all present at the big event. Presidential Club «Astana» opens its Academy. This has been a long-awaited event. We have a long road to go, and I hope that the outcome of today's step we have made with you will be great sporting achievements in future. I believe that we will be able to bring up Olympic champions, as our Valery Tikhonenko «, — said Mr. Kaletayev, the Deputy of the Senate, in his welcoming speech.
The idea of opening a children's basketball academy has been nurtured for several years, and finally, in 2016 a comprehensive work on the project has started. The main purpose of the Academy is to provide a solid base for the development of basketball in the country, with a further receiving higher sports education.
Amanbek Kulchikov, the Executive Director of «Astana» President's Club highlighted the importance of the Academy: «We hope that the children who practice in the Academy after a certain period of time will be able to enter the core team of our basketball club. In Kazakhstan, there are questions often being asked, why a lot of clubs have foreign players, but only providing the basis, the foundation, we can bring up the athletes who will compete for the top places. This is our first step in this direction; I think that it will be further developed. There are plans to open such Academies for other clubs, members of the President's Club.
However, the Academy coaches have the major goals to provide harmonious physical and intellectual development of children through the game, building their leadership and teamwork skills, and, of course, the planning the cultural and leisure activities for children. Coaching staff the team was carefully selected, and one of the important points was the knowledge of the Russian language.
The Serbian coach Dejan Parezhanin was appointed on the position of the head coach, who has previously worked in «Partizan» basketball club, which is one of the best for training children and cadets in Europe. He has spent his entire coaching career working with children and young teams in Serbia. The teams under his command played in the Euroleague. Anton Kirin and Ismail Bimendin became his assistant coaches. One of the main objectives in the decision to invite a foreign specialist is to hand over the international experience to local coaches and the development of Kazakhstan's basketball in terms of teaching. During the event coaches held exemplary activation, after which the children played with professional players of BC «Astana».
«It is very difficult to express in words how important this day is for our basketball. We have been waiting for long. I think it is true not only «Astana» team, but also the whole of Kazakhstan. Opening Basketball Academy at a level that we see today is an investment in basketball in future. Everything is provided for the children who truly love basketball and want to practice,»- said Valery Tikhonenko, the General Manager of BC «Astana».
Children's Basketball Academy «Astana» meets all international standards: it is equipped with a unique professional parquet (which has no analogues in Kazakhstan) and all necessary equipment, including a uniform for children.
Thus far 60 children aged 8 to 14 years attend the Academy. Practices are held in the morning and in the evening.
