Amawheelaboys lose focus against Algeria
The team's head coach said his team led for the first part of the game, before Algeria gained momentum and the Amawheelyboys lost focus.
The Sasol Amawheelaboys said losing focus cost the team an opening game during the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation’s African Qualifiers.
South Africa played against the host team, Algeria, on October 30.
The SA team held its training at the Mandeville Sport Centre before jetting off to Algeria.
The team’s head coach, Franck Belen, said his team led for the first part of the game, before Algeria gained momentum and the Amawheelyboys lost focus.
Charles Saunders, the chief executive officer of Wheelchair Basketball South Africa, said South Africa started the game with a winning gear, irrespective of the lively Algerian supporters at Staoueli Basketball Stadium in Algiers, Algeria.
“SA held a 15-11 lead after the first quarter and were 29-18 ahead at half-time. However, by the end of the third quarter, the Sasol Amawheelaboys had their advantage cut to a slender four points, with the score at 47-43,” said Saunders.
He said Algeria changed its game plan after the first half.
“The Algerian game plan came to life after the half-time break. They adopted a ‘two defender on one attacker’ system to nullify Sasol Amawheelaboys points machine, Richard Nortje. The mounting pressure saw the normally consistent Gift Mooketsi giving away some loose passes,” said Saunders.
“When the Algerians lifted their game, we lost confidence. That led to some passes going astray,” said Belen.
“If you do not put the ball in the hoop, you lose, and that is exactly what happened,” he said.
