Rossendale Raptors have teamed up with the Luol Deng Foundation to offer young people an exciting opportunity to be coached by great coaches and watch some terrific live basketball at the same time. The Raptors will offer junior coaching sessions as part of the Deng Mini’s programme before every home game during the 2013/14 season. Every child who attends will then get a free ticket to watch the Raptors play in the National League immediately after the session.
The Luol Deng foundation is the international charity established by NBA All Star and Great Britain International Luol Deng. Loul Deng is the most successful British basketball player of all time and the partnership is a great opportunity for the Raptors. The Deng Mini’s sessions will be the only Luol Deng sponsored sessions outside of London and a great opportunity for young players to improve their game and be inspired by exceptional players playing in the National League.
Club Chairman Ken Masser commented; “It’s a fantastic partnership for the Club. To be associated with Luol Deng and his foundation is brilliant for us and we honoured to have been given the chance to offer their programmes. But most importantly we’re delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to young people, to get some great coaching, to see some entertaining live basketball and to meet some players who will hopefully inspire them to take up or continue to develop in the sport.”
Steve Vear of the Luol Deng Foundation said, “We are really excited to be partnering with the Raptors. They are a really well organised club, with good commercial sense and excellent marketing credentials. They have some very good coaches and we are confident that they are the right partners to help us expand the Deng Mini’s programme into the Northwest of the UK. Luol sets very high standards for everything the Foundation does, and we are really careful about who we partner with to ensure that the standard is maintained. It's going to be a great opportunity for kids in the North West to access our programme and we hope they’ll enjoy it!”
The Raptors season starts in September, and sessions will run from 3:30pm-4:30pm before every Raptors home game and be for 8-18 year old girls and boys. The Raptors' Home games will then tip off at 5:15pm. Each session will cost just £3 per participant, and each participant will get a free ticket to watch the National League game following the session. Participants will also get the chance to win Luol Deng certificates and merchandise throughout the season.