Point Cook resident Elena Papakirikou recently won the title of Wyndham Basketball’s Junior Coach of the Year. The 15-year-old tells Fatima Halloum about the importance of girls participation in sports.
What’s your connection to Wyndham.
We live in Point Cook. My parents moved here when I was two. We lived in Fitzroy but my dad wanted to move to Point Cook because the house were bigger and affordable at the time.
What do you like about where you live?
I love our street and especially our neighbours, I also love my school, Good News Lutheran College, where I started back in 2013 in prep and I’m still there, I love the community feel and the great friends I have made along the way.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
I like Point Cook, I wouldn’t like to change anything but wish the freeway was a little better and less traffic going into the city.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
I spend most of my time at Eagle Stadium. I love basketball so most of my days are spent there either playing, training, coaching, reffing or hanging with my friends.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you…
I love to cook and bake. I also love to read books based on true crime.
What do you enjoy about playing basketball?
Basketball is my life, I started playing when I was six at lunch time at school and I realised I loved it. I love the game, the fitness and also that you meet new people and make new friends.
What message do you hope to spread amongst other girls wanting to play sports?
That we girls can achieve anything, if you love a sport get involved and give it a go. I have played basketball but I also love coaching and reffing, so even if my playing doesn’t get anywhere I am still involved in the sport I love, there are so many other aspects to the game. I have coached since I was nine. I also recently started reffing which again is part of basketball and I really enjoy it. You can work up the ladder to higher level of coaching and reffing which can see a future in.
Don’t let anyone put you down, get out and try your best. Let it be social, fitness or if you want to try make a career out of it, give it a go and don’t be afraid to get out there.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have been very fortunate to have my parents support me, I am a part of some wonderful clubs in Wyndham, Good News Power Basketball is where it all started and have always had my back in my game, coaching, and reffing. I started with them at the age of six and have always been a great club and I love coaching for them.
