At just 17 years old, Junior Nikanor made his dream come true.

He made his national debut, donning the national jersey at the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games, lighting up the court. 

He scored more points than any other Namibian player and earned praise as the team’s most outstanding player in a couple of matches. 

Yet, after the final whistle, the grade 9 pupil at El Dorado Secondary School in Khomas region showed no chest-thumping or theatrics – only a quiet smile and a handshake for every teammate.

“I am not different from any player on the court,” he said. 

“Ball is a team sport, and everyone’s contribution is equally important,” he added.

Nikanor’s journey as a player started way back before gracing the AUSC Region 5 basketball courts. 

Growing up in the dusty streets of Katutura, as the eldest sibling, responsibility came early for him. 

He spent his childhood exploring different sport disciplines, such as tennis, athletics and cycling, before finally finding his first love, basketball.  In 2014, an outreach programme that was unexpectedly held near his home introduced him to Basketball Artist School (BAS).  This is where his dream as a basketball player was finally realised. 

In 2017, his life took a sudden turn – he officially joined BAS.

 “In the first three months, I couldn’t even do a push-up. But with training, I improved. I’ll never forget the day I blocked the tallest player on my team,” he shared.

Guidance from older players gave him the belief that he could push himself further. That belief was finally put to the test this year at the AUSC Region 5 Games in Windhoek and Swakopmund in July. 

For Nikanor, playing for the national team meant facing and playing opponents from across the region. 

“It was a lot of pressure and an honour at the same time. When we played Angola, I realised I needed to be more physical. That’s something I’m working on,” he said.

 His mature assessment reflects the ‘Mamba mentality’ he admires in his basketball hero, the late Kobe Bryant. Off the courts, he lives a busy life. 

He must balance his time between playing for two different basketball teams and training for athletics and tennis. 

On top of all that, he must keep up with his schoolwork. 

“Always be humble. It will take you far,” Nikanor said.

But for him, basketball is about more than personal glory.  “I want to expose more Namibians to basketball and grow the sport in the country,” he said.

 His dream is to one day play overseas – in Europe’s top leagues – while continuing to represent Namibia. 

Until then, he is grounded by simple joys like playing with children at the BAS daycare. 

“It frees my mind, especially after a bad game,” Nikanor said.

For now, he is still just a teenager juggling homework and high-level competition, chasing a dream without losing sight of where he came from.

 If his journey is anything to go by, Nikanor is proof that the right mix of talent, humility and hard work can take one far in life and on the court.

His class teacher described him as a humble and orderly student.  “Nikanor is not only talented but disciplined. He manages to keep up with his schoolwork despite his busy sport schedule. That’s rare for a teenager,” said the teacher.

Another teacher Elvis Mbaha told this publication that his AUSC Region 5 success has left a lasting impact. 

“After his outstanding performance, the school is now considering introducing basketball. He has inspired his peers in ways we couldn’t have imagined,” he said. 

Nikanor’s close friend and classmate Pineas Ningeni described him as “the type of friend who is willing to help you out with your homework and challenge you to a one-on-one basketball game or a 100-metre sprint”.

– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na

Photo: Heather Erdmann