A dedicated coach, who thought his club members were being filmed to demonstrate karate moves, was left shocked when he was presented with a Sport NI SportMaker Award.
Coach Kevin Broderick thought the Sport NI film crew were at his Banbridge/Rathfriland Karate Club to capture his club members in action, but he was actually the secret star of the show!
The talented karate coach was visibly shocked when the Sport NI team surprised him with his SportMaker Children’s Coach of the Year trophy as part of the organisation’s annual celebrations of unsung sporting heroes.
Banbridge/Rathfriland Karate Club celebrate coach Kevin Broderick’s SportMaker award
The long-standing sportsman won the prestigious award for his skill and tireless commitment in coaching the U16s at his club.
Speaking after the presentation SportMaker winner Kevin said: “I am very shocked and surprised that I’ve been given this award and I’m very honoured. It’s not just about me but the group of people who are behind me and it’s always been that way for the years I’ve been involved in karate.
“I enjoy coming down and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces. We have had kids that have had issues and we feel that karate helps them with those issues.”
He added: “I can see how karate impacts young lives, giving them confidence in the lives that they lead, their schoolwork. When the young people compete and win something I actually feel better than when I competed myself.
“Watching a kid with a smile on their face when they get that trophy or get that title – it’s priceless.”
The Sport NI SportMaker Awards give the sporting community the opportunity to showcase their achievements and give special thanks to coaches, officials and volunteers who work hard behind the scenes. There are 12 award categories recognising achievement at all levels of sports participation, from grassroots through to high performance.
Pictured from left to right, Sport NI’s Alan Curran, SportMaker winner Kevin Broderick and John McConville
Nikkala Pokojski, 20, member of the Banbridge and Rathfriland Karate Club, praised Kevin’s coaching skills.
She said: “I started as a white belt and moved all my way up to a black belt and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without Kevin’s motivation and support the whole way through. He’s such a great coach.”
Fellow club member John McConville, who nominated Kevin for the SportMaker award, added: “I nominated Kevin because of the work he has done in the club over the years and especially during Covid-19 when he kept the club together through Zoom classes. These helped build on the more technical aspects of karate and on the family feeling of the club.
“Kevin has made a great impact with the young members of the club. He encourages them and he identifies their strengths, and their weaknesses then builds on those.”
Antoinette McKeown, Sport NI Chief Executive, congratulated Kevin on his award win.
“The SportMaker Awards are an opportunity to recognise our unsung sporting heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sport happen within our communities,” she said.
“Kevin is a fantastic example of inspiring the next generation to reach their full potential in a sport he loves. He is a dedicated and motivational coach who comes up with solutions to overcome obstacles such as Covid-19 to ensure the lives of his young students are enriched by the power of sport.
“Well done Kevin – what a SportMaker!”