Discipline key to success: Mutombo

NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo yesterday told Aspire students to set goals for themselves and go about achieving them with single-minded devotion and purpose.“Self-discipline is the most important quality needed to succeed in life. Without it you achieve nothing,” the Congolese-American said during a “star chat’ with British super heavyweight Olympic boxing gold medallist Anthony Joshua and former Formula 2 racing champion Dean Stoneman.“You need to have long-term goals and work systematically towards achieving them. I’ve seen many young men with great talent who couldn’t make it big simply because they were not disciplined enough. I cannot emphasise enough how important self-discipline is.”Mutombo, at 7ft 2 inches one of the tallest NBA players in history, told the audience about the time he arrived in the US to study medicine but eventually dropped out of premed school to concentrate on a career in basketball after Georgetown University coach John Thompson was told by students that a “very tall young man” was spotted on the campus.He was immediately asked if he would like to try out for the university team, and although he had never played basketball until then, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. The rest, as they say, is history.“To be frank basketball was one of the sports I hated the most,” Mutombo smiled. “While in Congo I was happy to be the goalkeeper of my school soccer team. I started playing basketball only when I was 20 and after about 20 years as an NBA player, now I can say that basketball is the sport I enjoy the most.”Mutombo began his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets (1991-96) before playing for teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks before retiring after a five-year stint with the Houston Rockets (2004-09).He established himself as one of the best backcourt players in history, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award four times (1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001) and continues to inspire budding talent from Africa dreaming of making it big in the US.The fame and riches he earned helped him set up a $40mn hospital in Congo named after his mother Biamba Marie Mutombo, spending $15mn from his own pocket and collecting the rest through donations.“I wanted to give something back to my people. The average lifespan for males was 44 and 43 for females. Malaria was a big killer.”The 300-bed hospital became the first modern healthcare centre in the region and has telemedicine capabilities with the US and Europe through a network established by Medical Missions for Children.Mutombo, now an NBA ambassador, wants to devote more time to his family and be a “good father” to his six children, four of whom are adopted.“I want to spend more time with them now and also touch the lives of as many people as possible before I leave this earth.” Meanwhile, Joshua recounted the days when he was a skinny teenager before a cousin invited him to workout with him in the gym which changed the course of his life.“I thank my cousin for taking me to the gym. I wanted to get strong so I started boxing. I watched him train and that inspired me,” said the Briton of Nigerian origin who won gold at the London Olympics earlier this year.“It was a great honour when the referee raised my hand after winning the final (against Italy’s Robeto Cammarelle). Now I want to keep my focus and plan ahead.” Racing driver Stoneman’s story is no less inspiring. After being diagnosed with testicular cancer two years ago and being told he had only a few months to live, he has not given up hope on his ambition to become a Formula One driver after recovering from the illness.“It was devastating to be sitting in a hospital undergoing intense chemotherapy and not knowing if you’d make it. However, I’ve not given up on my dream.”