Unison Backs Basketball Academy

Unison Backs Basketball Academy

15 February 2012 – Unison has signed on to support Hawke’s Bay’s Basketball Academy, recently inaugurated by Olympic Tall Blacks, Paul Henare and Paora Winitana.

The Academy will operate over the school year and will provide a structured pathway for talented basketball players. The first squad of 36 boys and girls (aged 12-18) was named on Monday, and will train out of venues in Hastings, Napier and Flaxmere.

The initiative closely mirrors Unison’s own values, with athletes’ participation in the programme governed by the overriding values of integrity, excellence and passion.

“Unison has a mission to deliver excellence across the business, and this comes from developing and supporting a culture of excellence and high performance within our staff. The Academy mirrors these values. They aim to instil a culture of excellence that will allow athletes to reach their full potential both on and off the court, which will not only benefit sport, but also our community,” said Unison Group Chief Executive, Ken Sutherland.

Winitana and Henare know what it takes to make it as professional athletes. Originating from Hawke’s Bay high schools, both went on to play at National, Australian and World Championship level, as well as winning Silver medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Both also represented New Zealand at the Olympics.

“We believe basketball is much more than a sport; taught correctly it can be a powerful instrument in changing lives for the better,” said Academy Co-Director, Paora Winitana.

“We expect nothing short of excellence both on and off the court from our academy members. We have our honour code and they are all required to maintain that high standard of conduct and effort at training, at home, and at school. We felt it was important that all parents understand our values and standards and commit to supporting their children during this journey, we are pleased to say that all have happily agreed; we want to develop a close relationship with the family.”

ENDS