Deng Alier is on a basketballing mission. The 28-year-old from Sudan is starting his own hoops club, 21Connection. He talks to Ben Cameron about building stronger ties between communities through the power of sport.
Did you land in Brimbank straight away after coming to Australia 11 years ago?
I came to this region straight away. I’ve been in Sunshine and Keilor Downs and St Albans.
Was it a shock moving to this country?
No, there was no shock for me personally. I was very happy to arrive.
You’re set on building your own basketball club. How did that start?
We had been playing in a team for the past eight years, competing in local leagues. After a while, all the young guys have pursued their careers in a very different way – some of them moved to Sydney, Canberra, other places. So I had to sit down and think about what I can do. From there I thought I had the passion for the game so it would be good for kids to grow through [the club].
What’s the club going to be called?
21Connection.
Why that particular name?
That name has a story behind it … where we lived in Kenya, a refugee camp, that was our group name. So when we put that name up, it created a bond for all the young guys in that group.
When did you discover basketball? I’m told you tried a few different sports when you moved to Australia, such as soccer and footy.
I started playing when I was 18. In the camp, I didn’t play much. I was a soccer player until I came to Australia. I played basketball casually every now and then. I took it up to engage kids and youth to participate in activities that improve their health, personal skills and sense of team.
What do you love about the sport?
It’s very unique in its own ways. It’s a sport where people can really express their talent and their connection. It’s worked as a bridge between communities.
Is this club open to everyone?
Yep, it’s open to everybody. We have Sudanese, Indian, Filipino, Caucasian backgrounds. In the next few years I want this club to grow and be unique in the Brimbank and western suburbs area. Whereby it’s very accessible to every community, to see that connection and see that bridge, where kids can grow up knowing that no matter what our background is, we have common goals to achieve at the end of the day.
How has your Brimbank experience been overall?
Coming to Australia there have been lots of positives, although there have been some negatives. The young guys have an opportunity to go to school and study. That’s one of the highlights I’ve seen – kids trying to do something for themselves. Brimbank has really changed, especially compared to when I first arrived. It’s become more multicultural and it’s more aware of every community and how they connect. It’s been really eye-opening. There’s a lot more acceptance than before, which is a good thing.
