Dubai: Jadon Follma was one many happy children at the end of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend held at the American University in Dubai (AUD).
Not only did the 13-year-old Grade VIII student from the GEMS World Academy, Dubai, win a contest during half-time of the celebrity basketball match, he also got a chance to meet and speak with his hero, the NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.
“This is awesome man. I just can’t believe I have spoken to the man himself. This is such an amazing experience for me,” Follma told Gulf News after accepting a signed basketball from Bryant for winning the contest.
Five kids were chosen from the crowd, and each of them had to kit up with a T-shirt, shorts and dribble the ball to the other end of the court, score a basket and return to the start point and take off the sporting kit to be a winner.
Follma, who plays in his school team, was simply quicker than the other four kids and he was all smiles as he received his autographed basketball along with a picture of him with the five-time NBA winner.
“Some things are like dreams, and this moment is one of them,” he screamed as American rapper Soulja Boy belted out his latest single to an appreciative audience.
The celebrity basketball match was part of the two-day DMCC Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend that was held to raise diabetes awareness in the UAE. On Thursday, Bryant had conducted an exclusive clinic for 40-odd hand-picked children at the GEMS American Academy in Abu Dhabi.
And on Friday, although the actual match was scheduled to start at 4.30pm, crowds had already started filing in by 3.30pm eagerly anticipating the arrival of Bryant.
As the 35-year-old came on the court, the crowd went beserk and security had a tough time keeping people off the court. Finally, Dubai Police had to be called in and they managed to keep things under control for the match to commence.
Finally, after the match had got under way at 5.10pm it was Bryant’s team that held the initial control with Qais Omar scoring a triple and then adding four more points. But, as the match progressed, the Real Madrid legends came back with Joseph Arlauckas scoring from the circle as the Spaniards trailed by three points 36-39 at half-time.
Bryant’s Black Mamba team kept up the pressure in the second half to eventually finish off the match at 72-63 and hand the LA Lakers legend his first win as coach with UAE and Al Ahli player Qais Omar coming out as the topscorer.
“This experience is one I will cherish all my life,” Qais Omar said after the match.
“There were some tips that I picked up from Kobe even though he did not play. But to be on his team and take advice from him directly has been one huge experience for me as a player. He’s such a huge motivation and he challenges us all to be like him. I promise this experience is enough for me to be a better player after meeting him in person,” the Al Ahli player added.
While making his maiden trip to the region, American rapper, actor and record producer DeAndre Cortez Way or better known by his stage name ‘Soulja Boy’ was thrilled to be on the Black Mamba team. “I have so much of respect and admiration for this great sportsman and it’s a blessing for me to here to be part of such a fantastic initiative that will encourage residents to live a healthier lifestyle,” Soulja Boy said.
“I’ve fallen in love with this place. And now that I’ve come here once I will be here again with the possibility of trying to do something in the music industry,” he added.
“But for now, I’m gonna have some fun.”
