A team of multicultural mothers used its first training camp to tighten up chemistry and begin serious game preparation. The players say they’re determined to overcome language and nationality differences and become one cohesive unit on the court.
The Korea Basketball Development Institute said its multicultural mothers’ squad, the Powidtu Global Mothers, recently held its inaugural training camp across Seosan and Asan in South Chungcheong Province.
Practices were held on Ungdo Beach in Seosan and in the gym at Onyang Girls’ High School in Asan, with coaches prioritizing conditioning and team cohesion.
The Powidtu Global Mothers roster features 25 mothers from 12 countries: Russia, Mexico, Iran, Cambodia, China, Japan, Mongolia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Taiwan, and New Zealand.
The program was launched by the U.S.-based Powidtu Foundation to give women from multicultural families a chance to connect through sport and build confidence.
The team pairs basketball practice with history and culture tours, sports clinics, and cultural programming to help form a stronger multicultural community.
On day one, the squad ran conditioning drills across the mudflats at Ungdo. Coaches used the soft terrain to build endurance and balance.
After practice, players held a team-building session to share personal goals and assign roles, strengthening their bond.
An official from the squad said that mutual understanding and cooperation are essential for a team made up of different languages and cultures.
On day two, the mothers held a joint session with the Onyang Dongsin Elementary School girls’ basketball team. Onyang Dongsin went undefeated across six girls’ elementary tournaments during 2025.
Under coach Kim Ja-ok of Onyang Dongsin, the mothers drilled fundamentals like dribbling and passing. They pushed through high-intensity work to learn the students’ quick, precise movements.
In the final scrimmage of the camp, the Global Mothers fell 19–64. Despite the wide margin, the players stayed focused on rebounding and defense until the final whistle.
Coaches said the game provided valuable live reps for defensive rotations, rebounding and maintaining court balance.
Former Chinese national ice hockey player Li Xiuli said, "It was meaningful to be part of the team’s growth. I’m disappointed I couldn’t complete all the sessions because of an injury, but I could feel the team changing."
Cheon Soo-gil, director of the Korea Basketball Development Institute, added, "I was impressed by the mothers’ passion and their will to win. As we prepare for upcoming tournaments, we’ll keep building cohesion so the team can earn its first win on the court."
