How a Coach, Mentor, and Community Builder Empowers South Shore Athletes Through Sport
At the age of 15, when Mustapha Maynard picked up a basketball in St. Catharines, Ontario, he quickly found a community and a sense of family.
After playing in the U.S. and later for the University of Prince Edward Island, Mustapha decided to settle in the Maritimes, building his family and his basketball legacy here.
He shares that his interest in coaching was influenced by his own high school basketball coach, who he describes as a “father figure” who taught him invaluable life lessons. Inspired by his mentorship, Mustapha now instills those same values in his players, helping them see the connection between teamwork on the court and resilience in life.
“I found that the lessons learned on the court also applied in life,” he explains. “When things get hard, there is always a way to either work even harder or find a solution.”
Today, Mustapha is the Division 1 basketball coach for the Parkview Panthers and the founder of South Shore Lightning Basketball Association. He hopes his contributions help to breathe some life into the community.
“I found there weren’t a lot of opportunities for youth growing up here,” he says. “Part of the reason I started my own Association was to give those same opportunities to the local youth here that I had in Ontario.”
The association provides a positive, competitive environment for young athletes, especially those in a smaller community.
Support from programs like Support4Sport and the Support4Sport VIP Coaching Program have allowed Mustapha to expand his initiatives and provide crucial equipment that keeps the kids active and engaged on the court.
“Funding is huge. It shows our athletes that someone actually cares about them and that we’re taking those steps to be part of these programs,” he says.
With the backing of programs like Support4Sport, Mustapha continues to inspire South Shore’s young athletes to reach their goals on and off the court.
