OUR COACHES AND TEAM MANAGERS

We are thankful for our coaches, team managers and parents who are very generous with their time, energy and dedication to London Westside.  

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COACH PATRICK AVORKLIYAH
Patrick Avorkliyah is proud to have inspired the basketball careers of numerous London Westside players who have gone on to play for England, Great Britain and Commonwealth teams.  Over his 15+ years of coaching, he has developed many players who have competed at the NCAA D1 and D3 levels.  He believes in the importance of having 5 London Westside teams in order to grow and develop players from a young age.  With Patrick as coach, London Westside won the national championship in 2016 (U14) and in 2018 (U18).  Outside of London Westside, Patrick has coached at his alma maters, St George's Catholic School and St Charles Sixth Form, where he was awarded coach of the year in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.   He is currently coaching at Platanos College in Clapham.  

Patrick's coaching philosophy is focused on skills and strategy.  He believes in the concept of "positionless basketball" - getting players to think for themselves, on their feet, to have responsibility for their actions both on and off court.  

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CONDITIONING with YAMILE ALDAMA
Yami Aldama is a four time Olympian triple jumper (2000-2012).  She represented Great Britain in 2012 at the World Indoor Championships where she won gold.  She also happens to be a London Westside parent and we are fortunate the she provides some gruelling conditioning sessions for our teams!