Basketball team announces signings

THE Kwazulu Marlins Basketball Team announced the signing of international players Benjamin Constable from New Zealand and Bryan Franklin from the USA, who both joined the club on a one-year contract for the upcoming 2015 Basketball National League (BNL) season, scheduled to begin in May 2015.

The Marlins made the announcement shortly after their final team trials, held at Kearsney College, where they currently train. The signings of both Constable and Franklin ensure the strengthening of the Marlins squad, which have lost five players in the close season. Veteran stalwart, Craig Gilchrist, retired from playing but remains with the Marlins as their new head coach.

“We are extremely excited with the addition of Ben and Bryan to our squad, and both bring US NCAA College Basketball experience to our team, which will help immensely in the development of our younger players in the squad. Being a KwaZulu-Natal community-based club, it was a no-brainer signing Constable and Franklin, who are in the country as volunteer basketball coaches with the Peace Players International Organization, a US-based charity working in various communities in and around Durban,” said Gilchrist.

On signing, Benjamin Constable said: “It's always emotional to put on a new uniform, it makes you reflect on the journey you took to get there. I remember a similar feeling putting on a New Zealand uniform for the first time, or the new kit when I reached college in the USA. It's a nostalgic and momentary feeling of bliss before it's time to get back to training. The Marlins jersey was different still. It had those feelings, but because it was my official professional contract it will always be special, especially because it's from such a raising basketball location – Africa.”

Bryan Franklin said: “Playing professional basketball has always been a dream of mine, a dream that until recently I never thought would happen. I couldn't be more excited to play for the Kwazulu Marlins this year. Not only for myself, but for the learners that I work with every day from townships across Durban through Peace Players International. The Basketball National League is a great platform to grow the game of basketball, in Durban and the country as a whole, but also to give back to the communities that need it most.”

The Marlins expect to finalise their 2015 roster within the next week and are already hard at work preparing themselves for the new season.

Keep up to date with the latest from the Marlins on the Facebook page (/kwazulumarlinsbasketball) and on Twitter @KwaZuluMarlins.