June 5, 2014 – The dedication of coaches Chris Facey and Aurimas Verbukas was recognised last night at the Lee Valley VeloPark, formerly the Olympic Velodrome, on a stunning evening of success for NASSA.
Both earned top honours at the London Awards for Sport & Physical Activity 2014 organised by London Sport, The Sport and Physical Activity Partnership for London. Chris was named as Coach of the Year, while Aurimas picked up the Volunteer of the Year award. Each of them beat stiff competition in their respective categories to earn a well-deserved reward for all of their tremendous hard work at NASSA over the past 12 months.
Chris, NASSA’s head coach, has been with us since we started in 2006. He spends all of his time – whatever he’s got – coaching as many sessions as NASSA can fit in for him. He coaches up to 20 hours per week in the extra-curricular schools and college sessions NASSA runs. Chris also gives 25-30 hours of his time on a voluntary basis to the NASSA club programme.
As a mentor for the young people, many of them who have troubled home lives, he is like a dad. He is also requested for at every school he goes to. They all say: “We want Coach Chris.” Read Chris’ full story here
Aurimas came to NASSA for three months to improve his English when he moved to the UK form Lithuania. That was five years ago. He gives up over 30 hours each week to coach our basketball teams. What makes this especially remarkable is that he combines this with his full-time job as a supervisor for a postal company. He truly has NASSA in his blood.
Aurimas is coach of NASSA’s Under-18s side. He is also assistant coach to Chris for our National League champions Under-13s boys side.
NASSA also received an Honourable Mention in the Community Sport Project of the Year category.
