With a passion for craftsmanship, Adam Touray can now learn the trade of carpenter from the ground up during his apprenticeship. (Photo: © Thomas Mohn)
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A basketball player chooses to pursue an apprenticeship in a trade. It's an impressive example that demonstrates that athletes and craftspeople alike are passionate about their work. A win-win for everyone.
Team spirit, technique, precision, and stamina : Adam Touray can summon all of these qualities during games with his team, the Uni Baskets Münster , to the cheers of the fans. These are the same important skills that the basketball player has been able to apply in his carpentry apprenticeship since August 2024.
As the oldest player on his team, the center considers it important to contribute his experience to the game and be a role model for the younger players . He is particularly proud of having made several three-pointers last season. It's one of the most spectacular and demanding achievements in basketball. But the likeable athlete with Ghanaian roots also scored on another court.
The Uni Baskets believe it's important that their players, despite their passion for the sport, don't lose sight of their professional future . The club supports players in their university studies. Since 2024, another focus has been on vocational training in skilled trades . At some point, Adam and the Baskets' manager, Helge Stuckenholz, sat down together. They discussed which professions the professional player could explore.
" When the word 'craftsmanship' came up, I was immediately enthusiastic ," says the 30-year-old from Münster. One quick phone call, and everything was settled. Adam Touray began a three-week introductory training course at the Kawentsmann carpentry workshop in Nottuln . Owner Max Bayer-Eynck has been supporting the Uni Baskets for many years. "Adam looked around at our workshop and other businesses and found his professional calling here." The owner is especially pleased that with Adam's decision to train as a carpenter, the Kawentsmann team can now also benefit from the positive energy of their new apprentice.
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Kawentsmann stands for genuine craftsmanship. His specialty is bespoke solutions, whether individual pieces or complete room concepts . When asked which types of work he particularly enjoys, the aspiring carpenter finds it difficult to answer. "The profession offers so many different aspects." He is currently working on furniture for a restaurant chain. "For me, it's a really good learning process to be able to repeat the individual work steps again and again on such a project."
Balancing training, matches, and work in the workshop is a challenge and only works if employers, clubs, and players are all on board. Adam still finds it a little difficult to be at the workbench at seven o'clock. But at the same time, he's glad to have found an employer in Max who gives him enough flexibility when match days are approaching. " Anyone who wants to find good people has to be flexible these days ," says Max Bayer-Eynck, adding that in addition to good pay, flexible working hours are playing an increasingly important role . "Adam is a 100 percent asset to us. When he's here, he gives it his all. His trainer appreciates his reliability and the fact that he can already visit customers independently during his apprenticeship." With their decision to pursue a career in a trade, Adam (still) an athlete and Max a tradesman hope they've set an important course for their future.
The basketball player is aware that his athletic career will eventually come to an end. But he wants to show young people today that sports are a wonderful, yet highly competitive business . Only a few make it to the top. His advice: "Always have a backup plan, think about what you can do after school or your athletic career. An internship, even before starting university, might help you get a taste of different trades . There are so many cool jobs out there."
Adam will be on the court with his "big man" team for a while longer, much to the delight of his club. He has his sights set on scoring a few more three-pointers in the upcoming season. He's quite certain that his solid vocational training in a trade has already given him a significant advantage . Because he knows that on the court, or in the carpentry shop, it's all about performance, dedication, and the satisfying feeling of having created something with his own hands.
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The German trade journal "Deutsches Handwerksblatt" visited Adam Touray in his workshop. Video clips of Adam in the Kawentsmann workshop are now available on Instagram and TikTok under the name "handwerksmacher:innen".
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DHB now also available digitally! Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!
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