Written by Ruby Fitzer and translated by Stevie Thomas
Scroll for Welsh
After an almost four-year losing streak, the Aberystwyth men’s basketball team secured their first win of the season against Cardiff Metropolitan 3’s with a final score of 86-45. Kaydien Gunter, the team’s president, said the win made him feel “Over the moon…it set a good precedent for the season as a whole.” After years of losing, setting this precedent for the team was really important to Kaydien and the rest of the team. Hamza Mhyn, the club’s secretary, says that a lot of it has to do with the attitude of the team, “Last year, sometimes the attitude was we’d go into a game thinking we’re gonna lose straight away…This time we’re going into games thinking we have to try our best because we want to win this.” He emphasized how much the losing streak had impacted the entire team. A lot of the players described a ‘losing culture’ that seemed to overshadow the talent and drive that the players all have individually. Winning their first game has turned the team around as a whole, and has pushed them to change their attitudes toward games. This attitude change has been especially imperative for the freshers who had never experienced a game at a university level. Nikita Andreevski, a fresher on the team, said that “Team morale was high after the win, it was kind of unexpected because I heard that last season they lost all of their games so I don’t think anyone was expecting that big of a win.”
This win has been incredibly exciting for the men’s team, and has given confidence to the relatively new leadership. With a committee made up entirely of second year students, and only a few committee members returning from previous years, the men’s team is fighting an uphill battle to get the club organized so they can continue to play in the future. Alex Emus, the club’s social secretary and one of the returning committee members from last year, commented on the win and the new leadership saying, “ It’s really nice because we sort of developed this democracy…which I think has really helped everybody in general. But from a personal standpoint, it feels nice to be on a winning team again.” Hamza agreed with Alex on this aspect of new leadership. He said, “I feel like we’re more relatable this year. Like being second year students we’re new to this as well so we’re not here to tell everyone what to do. We’re taking other people’s ideas because the way we see it, we’re all here to work together and build something together.” The committee for the current year all seem to share the same idea, that the culture they create for the team will affect their success. Coming from a multiple year losing streak and jumping right into a win seems to prove that for them. The committee is working to make sure the team is as well rounded and connected as possible, even allowing players to run training sessions and have their say in drills and games according to Kaydien.
For players new to the team, like Nikita, the democratic structure is something they have found to work extremely well. Nikita spoke about his relationship with committee members, “The leadership is good, they’ve all taken me under their wing. They’re all really friendly…Everyone is just there to teach you basketball.” The new team has created an extremely welcoming and friendly environment for returning and new players alike, allowing for more growth as a team this year and hopefully setting a precedent for cooperation and success when the club is passed down to the next group of leaders. Alex emphasized that the current committee is trying to set the club up for success in the future, but it has been no easy task, “There was a lot of stuff to sort out when we took over the club…slowly but surely we’re building the club back up, and I think by the time I leave, hopefully, it should be able to be taken over in good hands…” From financial issues to lack of coaching staff, the team has had to work extremely hard to get to where they are now, and they feel they have something to prove. Nikita spoke about people’s perception of the team, “We’re better than people think…our record doesn’t show it but I think we have some good players, some good talent on the team.” Old and new players alike shared this sentiment, their record from previous years does not reflect the talent or drive of the players, but is a result of losing culture and poor leadership. With one win under their belt and fresh leadership, the team is in a really strong position compared to where they were last year according to Alex.
Looking to next year, the team and the players individually want to continue to improve and have high hopes for the future of the club. Both Hamza and Kaydien expressed their excitement for the Varsity game in March and have a positive attitude about the rest of the year in general. They want to continue to build upon the foundation they have created the first half of the season and maintain their new positive attitude toward games. “We want to do Aber proud…” says Kaydien, and a lot of the team shares this motivation. After their win, and a few very close games, the men’s team is heading in the right direction and most definitely has the ability to continue to be successful.
Llwyddiant pêl-fasged dynion
Ar ôl colli o bron pedair mlynedd yn olynol, sicrhaodd tîm pêl-fasged y dynion ei fuddugoliaeth gyntaf o’r tymor yn erbyn 3ydd Metropolitan Caerdydd efo sgôr yn y diwedd o 86-45. Dywedodd Kaydien Gunter, llywydd y tîm, fod ennill wedi gwneud iddo deimlo “wrth ei fodd… gosododd gynsail dda ar gyfer y tymor cyfan.” Ar ôl blynyddoedd o golli, roedd gosod gynsail i’r tîm yn bwysig iawn i Kaydien ar gyfer gweddill y tîm. Dywedodd Hamza Mhyn, ysgrifennydd y tîm, ei fod yn dibynnu’n helaeth ar agwedd y tîm, “Blwyddyn ddiwethaf, weithiau yr agwedd oedd bydden ni’n mynd i gêm yn meddwl ein bod ni am golli yn syth… Y tro yma rydym ni’n mynd i gemau yn meddwl mae’n rhaid i ni drio ein gorau achos rydym ni yn eisiau ennill hon.” Pwysleisiodd faint roedd colli tro ar ôl tro wedi effeithio’r tîm cyfan. Roedd llawer o’r chwaraewyr yn disgrifio ‘diwylliant colli’ a oedd yn ymddangos i gysgodi’r talent a’r egni oeded gyda phob chwaraewr yn unigol.
Mae ennill ei gêm gyntaf wedi trawsnewid y tîm yn ei gyfanrwydd, ac wedi eu gwthio nhw i newid eu hagweddau tuag at gemau. Mae’r newid mewn agweddau yma wedi bod yn arbennig o hanfodol i’r glasfyfyrwyr a oedd heb brofiad o gemau ar lefel Brifysgol o’r blaen. Dywedodd Nikita Andreevski, glasfyfyrwyr o’r tîm, fod y “ysbryd tîm yn uchel ar ôl yr ennill, roedd e’n eithaf annisgwyl achos clywais eu bod wedi colli pob gêm y tymor diwethaf ac felly dwi’n meddwl nid oedd un rhywun yn disgwyl y fuddugoliaeth mor fawr i ni.”
Mae’r fuddugoliaeth yma wedi bod yn hynod o gyffrous i’r tîm dynion, ac wedi rhoi hyder i’r arweinwyr sy’n gymharol newydd. Efo pwyllgor wedi’i ffurfio yn gyfan gwbl gan fyfyrwyr yn eu hail flwyddyn, a dim ond ychydig o aelodau o’r pwyllgor yn dychwelyd o’r blynyddoedd blaenorol, mae gan dîm y dynion waith go galed i drefni’r clwb fel eu bod nhw’n gallu parhau i chwarae yn y dyfodol. Sylwodd Alex Emus, ysgrifennydd cymdeithasol y tîm ac yn un o aelodau’r pwyllgor sydd wedi dychwelyd o’r flwyddyn ddiwethaf, a phan yn sôn am y fuddugoliaeth ac am yr arweinwyr newydd; “mae’n hynod o neis achos roedden ni mewn ffordd wedi datblygu democratiaeth yma… sydd wedi bod o gymorth mawr i bawb yn gyffredinol yn fy marn i. Ond o safbwynt bersonol, mae’n teimlo’n neis i fod ar dîm sy’n enillwyr unwaith eto” meddai. Cytunodd Hamza efo Alex ar yr agwedd hon ar yr arweiniad newydd. Dywedodd, “Rydw i’n teimlo fel rydym ni’n fwy cyfnewidiadwy y blwyddyn yma. Gan ein bod ni’n fyfyrwyr o’r ail blwyddyn, rydym ni’n newydd i hon hefyd felly nid ydyn ni yma i ddweud wrth bawb beth i’w wneud. Rydym ni’n cymryd syniadau pobl eraill achos fel rydw i’n ei weld, rydym ni i gyd yma gyda’n gilydd ac yn adeiladu rhywbeth gyda’n gilydd.” Mae’n pwyllgor am y flwyddyn bresennol i gyd yn ymddangos i rannu’r un syniad, fod y diwylliant maen nhw’n creu i’r tîm am effeithio eu llwyddiant. Yn dod o flynyddoedd o golli tro ar ôl tro ac yn neidio i mewn i fuddugoliaeth wedi i’w weld i brofi hynny amdanyn nhw. Mae’r pwyllgor yn gweithio i wneud yn siŵr fod y tîm wedi’i gronni’n dda ac yn cysylltu efo’i gilydd cymaint â phosib, hyd yn oed yn gadael i chwaraewyr redeg sesiynau hyfforddiant a chael dweud eu dweud mewn driliau a gemau yn ôl Kaydien.
I chwaraewyr sy’n newydd i’r tîm, fel Nikita, mae’r strwythur ddemocrataidd yn rhywbeth maen nhw wedi ffeindio i weithio’n dda iawn. Siaradodd Nikita am ei pherthynas efo aelodau o’r pwyllgor, “mae’r arweiniad yn dda, maen nhw i gyd wedi fy nghymryd o dan eu hadain. Maen nhw i gyd yn gyfeillgar… Mae pawb ond yma i ddysgu pêl-fasged i chi”. Mae’r tîm Newydd wedi creu amgylchedd sy’n hynod o groesawgar a chyfeillgar am y chwaraewyr newydd a dychwelyd hefyd, yn caniatáu i’r tîm dyfu y flwyddyn yma a gobeithio gosod cynsail am gydweithio a llwyddiant pan mae’r grŵp nesaf o arweinwyr yn cymryd yr awenau. Pwysleisiodd Alex fod y pwyllgor cyfredol yn ceisio setio’r clwb lan ar gyfer llwyddiant yn y dyfodol, ond nid ydy hi’n dasg hawdd, “Roedd llawer o bethau i sortio pan gymeron ni’r clwb drosodd… yn araf ond yn sicr rydym ni’n cryfhau’r clwb unwaith eto, a chredaf erbyn yr amser rydw i’n gadael, rydw i’n gobeithio, ei fod yn cael ei gymryd drosodd gan ddwylo dda…” O broblemau ariannol i ddiffyg staff hyfforddi, roedd rhaid i’r tîm gweithio’n galed iawn i le maen nhw nawr, a maen nhw’n teimlo fel bod ganddyn nhw rywbeth i’w brofi. Siaradodd Nikita am ganfyddiad pobl o’r tîm, “Rydym ni’n well na beth mae pobl yn ei feddwl… nid yw ein record yn ei ddangos ond credaf fod gennym ni chwaraewyr da, talent da ar y tîm.” Teimlad a rannwyd gan chwaraewyr hen a newydd, nid yw eu record o’r flynyddoedd ddiwethaf yn adlewyrchu’r talent nac egni’r chwaraewyr, ond mae’n dal i fod yn ganlyniad o ddiwylliant colli ac arweinyddiaeth wael. Efo ei fuddugoliaeth gyntaf i’w enw ac arweinyddiaeth ffres, mae’r tîm mewn lle cryf i gymharu â lle oedden nhw’r flwyddyn ddiwethaf, meddai Alex.
Yn edrych tuag at y flwyddyn nesaf, mae’r tîm a’r chwaraewyr yn unigol eisiau parhau i wella ac i obeithio’n uchel am ddyfodol y clwb. Mynegodd Hamza a Kaydien eu chyffro dros y gêm Varsity ym Mawrth a bod ganddynt agwedd positif tuag at weddill y flwyddyn yn gyffredinol. Maen nhw eisiau parhau i adeiladu ar y sylfaen maen nhw wedi creu ar gyfer hanner cyntaf y tymor a chynnal eu hagweddau positif newydd tuag at gemau. “rydym ni am wneud Aber yn falch…” meddai Kaydien, a mae llawer o’r tîm yn rhannu’r cymhelliad yma. Ar ôl un fuddugoliaeth, ac ychydig o gemau agos iawn, mae tîm y dynion yn mynd ar y trywydd cywir a bod ganddynt yn bendant y gallu i barhau i fod yn llwyddiannus.