The Nation's Biggest Supporter
GET FUNDING |
GET RESOURCES |
NEWS & MEDIA |
IN YOUR REGION
Sixteen year-old Nathan Lindo has by his own admission, gone from wild boy to Wildcat since discovering basketball. His life has improved beyond recognition since winning a place on the Nottingham Wildcats basketball squad.
“I used to just mess about with other kids and we got up to some bad things, things I can’t say really," Nathan says.
I remember seeing older people that I had been looking up to and seeing them ending up nowhere. I realised that I had to do something so I could end up somewhere. I had what I thought were 'role models' to look up to – but they are nowhere now. But in basketball I have real role models and mentors”.
Nathan’s involvement with the Wildcats and local mentoring schemes has also provided a route back into education. He is currently studying for a modern apprenticeship at South Notts College to teach and coach basketball, and is planning to sit his GCSE exams.
Nathan admits that sport has given his life a new direction. “It’s become serious now. It’s a way of life. They gave me something to focus on – some goals in life, on and off the court".
Nathan was a football fanatic and hadn’t really sampled what other sports had to offer. But a chance meeting with a passer-by changed all that. Basketball coach Curtis Xavier was sufficiently impressed by Nathan’s athleticism as he watched him playing football one day, to offer him a trial with the Wildcats.
“I knew a little bit about basketball, but I was playing football a lot and I just wanted a change. Now, I just want to go as far as I can in basketball. I don’t know where I would be now without basketball. just don’t know” added Nathan.
Back to sport changes lives
East | East Midlands | London | North East | North West | South East | South West | West Midlands | Yorkshire
Graphic Version | How to use this site | Site map | A-Z Index | Contact Us