Ayanda Shange

Feature coach of the week this week is an exciting one for me personally, Ayanda Shange. Known for his cold heartedness on the floor as a player, ill be sharing with you some of his experience as a sideline man. What stands out to me about Ayanda is that he has been able to adapt to the times as a coach. This is evident in his style of coaching, where all players that step on the floor for him can do it all on the floor, a big man can bring up the ball and a guard that can post up. He has racked up an impressive coaching CV in a very short time from developing some of the best players out of St Charles College to taking down powerhouse schools such as Kearsney and losing by very narrow margins to St Charles and other top schools in KZN. Now coaching at Hilton College Ayanda has shown only promising results. And its not a coincidence he coaches one of the top (if not the top) girls school that is St Annes Diocesan College.

I got in touch with Ayanda earlier this week to find out about his coaching experience:

Current club or coaching position?

I currently coach the 1st basketball team at Hilton College and St Annes College Who or what motivated you to get serious about coaching?

The love of the game itself motivated me to get serious about coaching. As a player I've always wanted to evolve and learn more about the game. People (especially the younger students) used to ask me how I did what I did in a particular game, and I would explain. They would go try it, come back with positive or negative results. If negative I push them to work even harder.

Have you modelled your coaching philosophies after another coach or has it been "self taught"?

My coaching philosophies are modelled after coach Flosh Ngwenya and Lowell Mndaweni. Recently I have developed my own philosophies because of the evolution of the game. Favourite coaching moment?

When Nkosi (TK) made the SA u16 side, not only that but he captained the team aswell. It was really special because that kid and I put in so much work together to develop his game.

A favourite team to have coached?

My favourite team that I have coached is St Anne's and Hilton College because it challenged me as an individual. highest level coached?

I have my FIBA level 1 qualification. The highest I coached the men's and women's UKZN USSA teams. biggest accomplishment as a coach?

My biggest accomplishment as a coach was beating Kearsney and losing to St Charles by two points at the St John's tournament. Getting St Anne's College to be one of the top schools in the country.