'They accepted us with open arms': Newfoundland Rogues return from basketball camp in Sheshatshiu, Labrador
The Newfoundland Rogues were in Sheshatshiu hosting a basketball camp for the local high school basketball team, the Eagles. - Contributed/Newfoundland Rogues
Newfoundland Rogues basketball players Lewis Djonkam and Omega Harris never thought they would visit Labrador.
On April 13, Djonkam and Harris – along with Rogues’ coach Jerry Williams and another Rogues player – returned to St. John’s after hosting a basketball camp in Sheshatshiu.
“We run a camp for the school, the Eagles. They started a basketball program for the first time in the last season," Williams said.
"They did a story in the paper about it. We read that story, Tony Kenny, owner of the Newfoundland Rogues, and I. We decided to go out and just provide a camp, just give somebody expertise on basketball and things of that nature to the kids, who took it really well.
"The whole community there just was in love with us being there, so we decided to come back and do it again.”
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Williams took part in the program last year when the Rogues started the basketball camp in Labrador. He says things have improved since then.
“It was just the same thing. It was a blessing. Those kids grew so much and they learned so much from last season compared to now. This year, (they) lost in the regional championship game by a last-second shot. They're doing very well, which is very, very good,” says Williams.
The Newfoundland Rogues were in Sheshatshiu hosting a basketball camp for the local high school basketball team, the Eagles. - Contributed/Newfoundland Rogues
“They really asked us a lot of questions about a lot of our colleges and things of that nature, so it was night and day compared to the first time with them not being so shy and open to questions and things of that nature. But both times were just absolutely amazing.”
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Djonkam said the experience was filled with fun and basketball.
“Our favourite, obviously, is defence. We did a whole bunch of defensive drills and that took up a lot of time. But the kids, they put in their legs. You can tell we were there for three days. You could tell by the last day. They're a little tired,” Djonkam says.
Williams says the basketball camp was a lot of hard work, but it paid off incredibly.
"We get there early, set up the routines that we're going to do with the guys. We have the guys in the gym all day," says Williams.
The Newfoundland Rogues were in Sheshatshiu hosting a basketball camp for the local high school basketball team, the Eagles. - Contributed/Newfoundland Rogues
The camp would run from 9 a.m. until noon, take a short break for lunch, and then go again from 1-3 p.m.
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“Drills with them, putting them through different situations, on free throw contest, a three-point contest," he said.
"There's a whole bunch of things that strictly deal with basketball, and we have a Q&A with them as well. We sit down and talk to just figure out what they want to do in life and different things.”
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Djonkam had never visited Labrador before and says he’s thankful to have the opportunity to see a place that's so unique and friendly.
“This is my first time in Canada. My first time out of the States," he says.
"Out there, honestly, beautiful. My coach expected it to be freezing cold. But we went out there and it was warm. It was a lot that we've seen. (Sheshatshiu) was a lot different than St. John’s."
Djonkam is from Springfield, Virginia, a large city not far from Washington, D.C. He says small towns like Sheshatshiu are friendlier and more welcoming than what he’s used to.
It was also Harris’ first time in Labrador. He’s from Oklahoma City, a long way from the small-town charm of Sheshatshiu.
“I did like it. It was a cool experience," Harris said. "The weather is good. There isn’t a whole lot there, but it’s cool.”
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Djonkam and his colleagues were famous around town, with plenty of requests for autographs and pictures.
“That probably was the funniest interaction we had," Djonkam said. "Every time we'd step anywhere out of our hotel room, ‘Oh can I get a picture with you.’ Very friendly. They just open arms. There was a lot of love in the air. We appreciate it.”
The Newfoundland Rogues were in Sheshatshiu hosting a basketball camp for the local high school basketball team, the Eagles. - Contributed/Newfoundland Rogues
Harris says the autographs and photos were fun.
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“We met some locals. We got outside the hotel," he says. "It was a very good opening, along with the people, very loving environment. The basketball camp was like a big impact and it gave a lot of memories for a lot of kids.”
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Djonkam not only enjoyed the community but also the basketball. He says the kids were equally as interested.
“The kids were beyond excited about basketball. We were up there and the kids were extremely coachable. They're out there, they love the game. You saw the passage in their eyes,” he says.
Harris enjoyed the Q&A session with the kids the most.
“They had many questions for us," he adds.
"They all had their own experiences with themselves. Like some of them play different sports like hockey.”
Williams was also a big fan of the Q&A and says since last year, the questions improved and the kids were much more engaged.
“Last year was more, 'Where are you from, how long have you been playing basketball,' basic questions. This year it was like, ‘Coach, what do you think about this coach from Duke?’ What do you think about this team in Maryland? What do you think about this player from here.’ It was totally, totally different,” says Williams.
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Williams is looking forward to the next year. He can’t wait to go back.
“They're such nice people. That they want us here," he adds.
As for Djonkam, he’s glad he got to visit this year and says he can’t wait to go back.
“They accepted us with open arms. That's how much love we got, even at the school the last day. We were signing autographs for almost an hour.”
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Sanuda Ranawake is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Indigenous and rural issues.
Sanuda Ranawake, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Telegram
