Johannesburg (New Ziana) – Zimbabwean basketball coach and Masvingo bred Adrian
Machiri never thought – not even in his wildest dreams – that he would become a vital cog of
one of the sport’s biggest talent identification and development programmes in Africa.
Infact, the 38-year-old NBA Africa and Royal Bafokeng Sports regional basketball head
coach revealed how he landed his job in 2011 by pure coincidence, after being “at the right
place at the right time”.
“I got involved with South African basketball development initiatives in 2011, I think it was
in October of that year, purely by luck,” Machiri said.
“I came to South Africa in October 2009 and did some small part time jobs. I enjoyed playing
basketball while I was at school in Zimbabwe and one day, I decided to play a game on the
court with some friends, just for fun,” Machiri added.
Unknown to Machiri and company was that three senior coaches from NBA Africa – Joby
Wright, Patrick Engelbrecht and Frank Traore – were among the spectators of their “match”.
“When Joby later asked me if I would be interested in coaching young basketball players I
realized they had been watching us all along,” said Machiri.
He immediately agreed to the offer – beginning the journey of a coaching career he said
seemed very unlikely when he was growing up.
Machiri, who celebrated his 38 th birthday on 15 January, grew up in Mashava – a small
mining community outside Masvingo.
“I attended King Mine Primary School and Victoria High School and although I played
tennis, cricket, soccer, volleyball and basketball our parents always encouraged us to pursue
careers in fields such as education, medicine, law and aviation.
“Today, they both accept and understand that I enjoy coaching basketball and are very
supportive of my career,” he explained.
For almost 12 years now, Machiri has been at the forefront of coaching u/14, u/16 and u/18
players from schools around Rustenburg as part of a junior NBA programme aimed at
harnessing and developing young talented players and grooming them for a professional
career in the sport.
Under the watchful eye and expert advice of Machiri and other NBA coaches, the young
players are taken through intensive two-hour training drills at the Royal Bafokeng Basketball
Courts near Rustenburg for three days every week.
The drills focus on basic basketball skills, physical endurance and a modern appreciation of
the game to enable the players to compete at a very high level.
An inter-schools league – an annual highlight of the development drive – pits the young
players against each other and also allows the coaches to identify those who can be
considered for scholarships to play college basketball in the USA while also furthering their
studies.
Machiri said rubbing shoulders with NBA household stars like Chris Paul, Serge Ibaka and
Bismack Biyombo – who are often invited to inspire the young players during league finals –
has also helped to develop his coaching skills.
“I have met some of the biggest former and current NBA stars and I have learnt a lot from
interacting with them.
“I am going to keep moving forward with the aim of learning, acquiring more knowledge and
growing in the sport,” Machiri said.

“Hopefully, sooner rather than later, I will be able to bring back al the skills that I am
learning here and apply them to players back home in Zimbabwe. If given a chance, I would
also like to channel everything I have learnt here to help develop basketball in Zimbabwe,”
he pointed out.
When he is not blowing the whistle and instructing is students on the basketball court,
Machiri spends time with his wife and four-year-old daughter, who are both living with him
in Rustenburg.
“It is not easy (to find free time) but I try as much as I can to spend time with my family
whenever I can.
“Sometimes, when I am coaching or officiating during games, my family accompanies me to
enjoy the action but I make it a point to relax with them at home once in a while.”