12/05/2026
“Over the years, I have seen many players come and go. Some arrived already polished, capable of performing well in competitive matches. Some were exceptionally skilled, while others possessed rare natural talent. Any team, club, or academy would gladly welcome such players into their system as future prospects. That is one side of coaching when you are scouting young athletes.
But here’s the other part.
Despite their talent and potential, many athletes are unwilling to embrace the fundamentals of the game. Basic drills, footwork, discipline, and repetition are frequently seen as boring or unnecessary — especially by players who are already performing well in games. The moment they are denied game time, many lose motivation.
That had been a recurring experience for us as coaches until recently.
Meet Suhani Baniya, an SEE athlete we scouted last month. After gaining exposure and competing at the SEE tournament level, many athletes would feel they had already achieved enough.
But Suhani has shown a very different mindset. She arrives at training an hour early, patiently waits for her shift, and spends time observing the youngest groups as they practice the most basic skills like jump stops, footwork, movement patterns, and foundational drills.
And finally last week, we decided to give her a chance to train on fundamentals. Keep in mind, she is already one of the strongest players when it comes to isolation play, at least in the SEE tournament level.
But now, it has become part of her routine. She comes early, works on the basics, sweats through the drills, and genuinely looks happy to be part of the session.
This is the type of athlete every coach hopes to work with — humble, disciplined, eager to learn, willing to improve, and committed to the process regardless of status or recognition.
Athletes with this mindset make it easier to build not only strong teams, but also a strong culture.“
We wish Suhani and young athletes like her around the world the best for future pursuits. One Dream🇳🇵
