Anisa gives ’More the right attitude!
Newtonmore shinty stars have revealed the surprise secret weapon that helped them win the Premier League and Camanachd Cup title – attitude training from a Ugandan-born lady.
Motivational coach Anisa Caine, who moved to Newtonmore 16 years ago, has previously worked as a consultant with the United Nations and Cambridge University.
Now shinty team captain Scott Campbell sees Anisa’s mentoring as a key part of the team’s future.
Scott said: "One of the team’s biggest problems was the lack of discipline.
"Anisa was the trigger that took us from being one of the most undisciplined teams that was nearly successful, to being the most disciplined team that is now really successful.
"Two years ago we had a team that would self-destruct and fall apart."
He added: "Myself and Fraser Mackintosh both worked with Anisa and she helped with our positivity.
"She helped us to know that when the chips are down you can still drive on, can still have success, and can achieve your goals.
"Anisa worked with our pivotal players which reflected on the rest of the team.
"I’ve played in the first team for eight seasons now and throughout this season there has been far more confidence within the team."
Campbell went on: "This year there has been massive emphasis on people improving themselves physically.
"But having done a lot of sports coaching I can also see the benefits of addressing the psychological aspect.
"Anisa has helped to make the team a more positive beast. Going forward to next season, I want Anisa to be involved."
Anisa grew up in Uganda and went on to teach in the Middle East, where she found that the education system did not help children to fulfil their potential.
She said: "Children would lose interest. They were just waiting to turn 18 and quit school. What I did was show children that they all had potential and were capable of achieving excellence."
Following time living in Switzerland, where she worked with the UN, and in England, where she worked at Cambridge University, Anisa moved to Newtonmore with her husband, Alastair, who she met while he was teaching English in Ugandan schools.
She said: "When I moved here, not a lot of people had heard of what I do and they wanted to find out.
"I have gone on to help local individuals and groups, and I have a core group of people from all over Europe who come here every year to work with me for one week."
Instead of helping people to overcome their weaknesses, Anisa’s technique involves identifying a person’s strengths and helping them to come to the fore.
She explained: "We all use different types of intelligence at different times. I show people that they have the option to use the right type of intelligence at the right time."