‘It’s a family dynamic, a sense of belonging’
THE COACH AND CAPTAIN REFLECT ON 50 YEARS OF THE MOSS SIDE TROPICS BASKETBALL TEAM – AND THE ICONIC POWERHOUSE BUILDING
ON a normal day, the Powerhouse building in Moss Side would be a hive of activity from the many youth groups and sports clubs that call it home.
But, today, like it has for the last year, the centre lies eerily quiet.
The Powerhouse is regarded as the spiritual home of the Moss Side Tropics, a premier basketball league team who regularly train and play on the centre’s basketball court.
For the last 50 years, head coach and co-founder, Fitzroy Wallace, has dedicated his entire life to the team.
“I have always been interested in sport as a vehicle for pulling people together,” coach Fitz said.
“Sport teaches various life skills – team work, trustworthiness, cooperation, dedication. It’s something to focus on.”
During the Tropics’ time at the Powerhouse, Coach Fitz has seen lives built on this very court.
“The Tropics provide that family dynamic – a sense of belonging and support,” he explains.
“Young players will often wonder what I’m talking about but as they take their own different paths, they have all taken what I’ve taught them into their own careers and lives.”
It’s that family dynamic that has run through the veins of the Moss Side Tropics ever since its foundation in 1972.
But just because its family, doesn’t stop things from getting a little heated every now and again.
In fact, it’s sometimes encouraged.
“It’s what keeps our little family unit together to be honest,” captain Daniel Seshie-Cottrell, 35, said.
“I can shout in your face for two hours on a basketball court, go outside of the court and just have a laugh, that’s basically what happens.
“In other clubs you won’t be able to do that because once you argue with someone on the court you may walk out and think ‘I don’t know if I’m going to go back’ but we don’t have that kind of animosity towards each other.
“What happens on the court stays on the court and that’s it.”
Daniel has spent 20 years with the Tropics having joined at the age of 15. He joined after hearing about the club while playing basketball at the John Amaechi Centre in Sale Moor. As soon as he started training with the Tropics at the Powerhouse in Moss Side, he said he was hooked.
“It was literally go to school, go home, get changed, get to the Powerhouse,” Daniel explains.
“Fitz was nurturing, he was a father figure, he likes to focus on your individual skill set more so than letting everyone run the same drill and not really benefiting.”
Hanif Moncrieff, 35, joined the Tropics five years ago.
As a player for the Hackney White Heat team, Hanif was visiting Warrington for a game and was introduced to Kieran Forsythe, a player for the Tropics.
They kept in contact with one another and when Hanif decided to move to Manchester in 2016, the move to the Tropics just made sense.
“When I fully moved to Manchester, nobody knew who I was but basketball has always been a gateway to meeting new people and gaining new friendship groups,” Hanif says.
“Immediately they took me in, they showed me around Manchester, the food, the places to go to, the friends of friends.
“I was just drawn to the brotherhood.”
Hanif joined the Tropics just as the club was trying to find its footing following two tragic losses.
In 2013, player Steve Brown died suddenly at the age of 36.
His significant impact on the team was missed instantly. Some players even left the Tropics following Steve’s passing as they felt the fun had been taken out of the game for them.
Just two years later, another player, Juma Ngqobongwana, died suddenly at the age of 30 in 2015.
“The passing of Juma in 2015 was significant for all of us,” Daniel explains.
“I was vice-captain when Juma was captain so when Juma passed, I stepped up into the role, took all responsibilities on and just hoped I could do just half as good a job as Juma did for us.
“It’s like being made to grow up quite quickly to step into a role you never envisioned yourself in. Those two moments definitely opened our eyes. I think that’s why most times we step on the court we shout both Steve Brown and Juma’s name – it brings us closer together and helps us set targets each season that we want to achieve in their honour.
“The season after Juma passed, we went undefeated with 28-0.”
The year looks set to be an important one for the Tropics.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on the club and the team are excited to return to the court.
“I have to cherish the last moments I have in basketball because of my age,” Hanif adds.
“I feel like I’ve been robbed of two years so me playing basketball now is a situation where I really do cherish everything that basketball has provided for me.
But, the pandemic has also been tough on the team’s iconic home.
The Powerhouse, a charity-run council building, is struggling to survive.
The desire to highlight the importance of the Powerhouse is one of the reasons that the Moss Side Tropics are now working on a docu-series chronicling the team throughout the pandemic.
Co-produced by Swish Films, alongside brand161mcr and Rawthentic Vision, the series aims to not only showcase how the club has brought people in Moss Side together through sport but also highlight the value of community spirit.
● Moss Side Tropics are looking for brand collaborations and sponsorships for the team, the Powerhouse and to help fund the films. Brands can connect with ‘Swish Films – Phil Matthews’ on LinkedIn or email Norris@SwishFilms. co.uk.