Miha is the coach of the St Peter Chanel Netball, Basketball and Touch Teams. He also Coaches a Netball for a High School in the city. Miha is more than coach; he is a mentor, leader and motivator of many. Since COVID the school struggled with Sport participation. Miha has had a huge impact on growing Sport in our School. He is supremely organised (already working on AIMS games preparation and fundraising), he has sourced uniforms, run practices and motivated parents and pupils to participate. He has mana and manaakitanga in abundance. He is our SPC star!
Miha gives up lots of his own time to meet the students needs. He always rotates students in positions to grow the students confidence and allow all students to have a go. He found sponsorship for us, at the end of every Netball for example, we share sponsored kai and go around in a circle where each player has to say something positive about the person beside them. He always acknowledges improvements and the players just love him. He sticks to the rules, is always professional and kind. He has grown the game, we had just 1 Netball team in the whole school, I think we have 4 now and we are a small school. Students are encouraged to give it a go and he holds well run trainings. Our Year 5/6 team won almost every game but he often wouldn't tell the team they'd won, he would focus on, and praise their sportsmanship, their improvements and their commitment. He takes any student that needs a ride to games, he drops them off at home if needed too. His own family (wife and mother) are huge supporters of the team. He is a great communicator, to the players and the parents. His focus is on growing sport in the school and making sure students have FUN always. He would enter us into other competitions and organise kai, music, costumes and fun for our children. This was always well supported by whaanau and it was all down to his hard work.
He fairly rotates players, never putting on a 'best team', so all players feel valued and seen. He has fun with the players. He takes them to watch High School and Magic games. He ensured the players got to have a skills morning with the Magic, they loved this and were so inspired. He doesn't tolerate drama or bad will. It's always positive. The students are proud of their school and their team. He is kind and shows manaakitanga to players and whaanau. He goes the extra mile every week for families and in turn the 'vibe' in always positive. He organised a prizegiving and day out as well as awards.
The Principal of St Peter Chanel endorsed this nomination. At the end of the season parents organised a gift, recognisding his and his wife's commitment to the team(s). The players love him. They never say a bad word about him. Parents acknowledge the reason their child is playing sport, or doing kapahaka, or being in a team, is purely because of the positive experience they have when they are around Miha. Families and sponsors have made recent significant donations for equipment and gear, this reflects the work and mana of Miha. He is innovative and always thinking ahead.
All sports have grown. Our child for example, started off doing KapaHaka with Miha, then Netball for 2 years. Then Flippa Ball and has now joined his Touch Team. She respects and loves him as a coach. She believes in his vision for her and he articulates plans, like going to AIMS games next year for the first time as a school. One parent said "I feel he sees potential in all the players , is a great support and has excellent communication"
Player M says "he makes Netball fun, he is organised and can keep us under control!"
