Ball is in their court

BOUET teenagers are determined to overcome their negative reputation. A group of 16- and 17-year-olds have formed the estate's first basketball team to prove they can get involved with community activities.

The Bouet Ballers made their debut on Wednesday and practise weekly at the Brock Road Youth Club.

Alan Myers, 16, said he wanted to do something to combat people's negative perceptions.

'We started a team because it was something to do and we're sick of the bad reputation we have,' he said.

'Just because we're from a housing estate doesn't mean we're any different from anyone else.

'The problems in the Bouet are completely exaggerated and if anything it's the adults who are causing the trouble.'

The teenagers decided to form a team after playing together regularly on the ball court that was built on the estate earlier this year.

A joint project between NCH Children's Home Charity and the Guernsey Sports Commission encouraged youths in the area to get engaged in sport.

Adam Farish, who is both a junior development co-ordinator for the Guernsey Basketball Association and a NCH youth alcohol worker, said the teenagers wanted to promote a positive image of themselves.

'It's a small minority who cause the problems and then the rest get tarred with the same brush,' he said.

'These guys have really grabbed the bull by the horns. Forming a team was their idea.

'Unfortunately, they lost their first game, but they kept their heads up and were good sports throughout.

'Basketball is great for team building and we hope they stick with it. There are definitely some promising players.'

The commission paid for the Bouet Ballers' kit and their entry fee into the development league.

The estate ball court was designed by Lovell Ozanne Architects, landscaped by Bob Froome and Sons and its surface laid by Ronez for free.

Barclayswealth also supplied £5,000-worth of equipment.

Community sports development officer Laurel Garfield said it had gone down very well on the estate.

'The basketball team has proved Bouet teenagers are eager to get involved with community activities,' she said.

'They are also looking into holding fund-raising activities for local charities. I am really proud of them for the effort they have put in and hope they do really well in the league.

'I would love to see more courts developed in other housing areas but we would have to look at suitable sites and methods of funding. Seeing how the ball court has impacted on the Bouet community just shows what value it could bring to other areas.'