Wheelchair basketball squad aims for Tokyo
“It comes with a lot of challenges, but at the end of the day we have to make it work."
The South African senior women’s wheelchair basketball squad is preparing at Mandeville Indoor Sports Centre for the Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, in August.
The team has been training for the qualifying games that will be starting on March 7.
Captain of the national squad, Mandisa Mkhungu (30) from Durban, recapped the squad’s 2019 performance and talked about the promotion of junior players to senior level.
Mkhungu looks forward to having them as part of the team in the 2020 games.
“2019 was a very sportive year for both men and women basketball. We have been touring for the games and being part of the league of the province has also influenced us to up our games.”
“We look forward to the qualifying matches in March and we hope to represent South Africa in Tokyo.”
She said holding down captaincy was not easy, but the squad believes in teamwork.
“It comes with a lot of challenges, but at the end of the day we have to make it work. As a captain you have to come up with good decisions that will also benefit the team.
“I try my best and I am happy with my team.”
Mandisa said the team is also looking at the basketball women’s league that they are ready for, but the main focus now is to qualify for Japan’s Paralympics.
