Management Team & Directors

Mark Crandall
H4H Founder and Executive Director

Mark started his basketball career in the 1970′s under the tutorage of NY State’s most winning coach, and was captain of his high school basketball and soccer teams. Mark was selected as a Rotary Exchange student in 1984 and spent his junior year of high school in Zimbabwe. He received a BA in Sociology from the University of Vermont and went to the School for International Training in Melbourne, Australia. Mark has worked at the American International School, Bangkok and co-founded the East Hampton Sports Camp in Long Island and Camp JoJo/ Sports Camp in Harare, Zimbabwe. He played for the Celtics, Raiders, and Dolphins in the Zimbabwean and South African basketball leagues. All led him to start Hoops 4 Hope in 1995 to provide sports, fun, education and opportunity for all young people. He and his wife Sue de Lara have two daughters Zola and Inez.

Kita ‘Thierry’ Matungulu
Director Hoops 4 Hope South Africa

Kita is well know from his playing days as ‘Thierry Kita’ in South African basketball circles.  He is currently Hoops 4 Hope Director in South Africa. He is a true student of the game of basketball, and contributor to the improvement of youth development. Highlights of his career to date:

  • Continues to serve as the South African National Coach of the Senior Men’s Basketball Team
  • Key seller of the “Ubuntu” team concept that delivered the Boston Celtics 17th championship.
  • Serving in his 6th season as guest coach of the Boston Celtics.
  • Serving 8 years as coach contributor at the NBA Basketball Without Borders Camp held annually in Africa.
  • Served as South African men’s basketball national team head coach to 3 FISU World Students Games (Beijing, Izmir, and Thailand)
  • Played Professional basketball in South East Asia and South Africa
  • Lectured at the Department of Human Science at the University of the Western Cape.
  • Worked for 7 years as a TV contributor and presenter on South African Basketball program “In the Zone” and “Slam Dunk”
  • Serving as head coach at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology


Ngoni Partson Mukukula
Director Hoops 4 Hope Zimbabwe

Age: 40 years, married to Fiona with two children – Watida (11) and Noku (7)
Nationality: Zimbabwean

  • Zimbabwe Women’s National Team Coach
  • Member of Zimbabwe Olympic Committee Technical Commission
  • Founder and Coach od the Raiders Basketball Club

Hoops has afforded us, the Zimbabwean Team, a chance to positively touch lives in our communities. Together we have taught our children to live life with a lot of purpose and a lot of hope.