Times:
Like many young men in New Zealand, Josiah and Sione Maama grew up believing that the only sport worth playing was rugby. In fact, the two former Pakuranga College students came across basketball purely by chance.
As Josiah recalls, “One day, in Year 9, rugby training got cancelled as it was hailing so I went into the basketball gym to find shelter until my mum picked me up. To kill time I watched the basketball trials. Coach Reg Matenga thought I was a trialist and put me on the court. I had no shoes, just rugby boots, so I trialled in bare feet.”
And 13 seasons later, Josiah has travelled across the world coaching basketball, learning from some of the best and has met some big names in the sport.
Based in Auckland as head of basketball at Pakuranga College, he coaches the college’s boys’ 1st team and has been a part of the NZ Age Group, Development and Koru teams.