To the Editor:
In the May 24, 2019, issue of the Port Washington Times, you have published an article titled “JCC coach charged with assaulting juvenile.” The article is about a man named Cheikh Khadim Ndiaye, a basketball coach at the JCC. I know him as Khadim, and I am baffled by the contrast between the person I know and the charges that have been brought against him.
At the JCC, I have often watched Khadim coach kids on their basketball skills. I know little about basketball, but it was so cute to see Khadim with these kids. He is hardworking, popular and kind. His trainees and their parents apparently like him as demonstrated by the increasing number of kids signing up to be coached by Khadim. Among his other accomplishments, Khadim received a four-year full athletic scholarship for Men’s Basketball at St John’s University.
I find it hard to believe that Khadim would hurt a kid. It appears that the parents went to the police first instead of bringing their complaint directly to the JCC. Couldn’t The Port Washington Times have tried to find out more facts before publishing this article? The consequences for Khadim, and the JCC, are destructive. His lawyer is Daniel Friedman and he can be reached at danfriedmanlaw@gmail.com.
Martha Schweitzer
