New faces join Marlins squad

THE Kwazulu Marlins has announced its squad for the 2015 Basketball National League season set to get under way in May.

The Marlins management team has ompiled a squad consisting of seasoned campaigners and very exciting youngsters, including the promising young Grade 11 pupil Bryan Cele from Durban High School.

Cele could not contain his excitement in being included in the squad, where he will no doubt gain invaluable experience playing alongside the established Marlins players, like Nhlanhla Dlamini, Ayanda Shange, Ryan McFie and Darren Holcomb.

On his selection the 17 year old said: “I am really excited to have signed my contract with the Marlins and still cannot believe that I am in the squad at such a young age, but I am up for the challenge. It will be such an honour to play alongside players like Nhlanhla and Ayanda. I have always looked up to and admired players in the league like Linda Sibankulu and Neo Mothiba and now I have the opportunity to play against them and I cannot wait!”

South African national team player, Ayanda Shange, who was plagued with injury problems last season, commented: “We are excited to add young talented guys to our squad as well as the two athletic international players in Ben Constable and Bryan Franklin, but I am really excited to see what our promising young star Brian Cele can produce for us this season. These exciting prospects have the potential to have an immediate impact on the league and I know our fans are going to love watching these new players this season. I am also very excited with the appointment of Craig Gilchrist as our head coach and his vast national and international experience as a coach will benefit us immensely! Look out for the Marlins this season!”

New Marlins foreign signing, New Zealander Ben Constable was also very upbeat about the composition of the team.

“I am obviously new to the South African basketball scene, but my initial impressions are that there is a classic mix of older experience between players like Ayanda Shange, Nhlanhla Dlamini, Ryan McFie and Darren Holcomb, which will provide the team with the catalyst for growth and nurture the young talent. We will also be well spaced with the shooting ability on this team and what has impressed me most since joining the club, is the coaching staff’s focus on defense. We will definitely have the fire power to score, but buying into coach Gilchrist’s defensive philosophy will be key to our success!”

On his squad selections, coach Craig Gilchrist indicated that the coaching staff are extremely happy with the squad.

“We have good depth in every position which will lead to good inter squad competition for the game day roster. We also have a great mix of veterans and developing youngsters and we are really looking forward to the start of the Basketball National League season,” he said.

The squad is: Nhlanhla Dlamini, Darren Holcomb, Sbu Cele, Bandile Nsele, Khaya Nzama, Bryan Cele, Ayanda Shange, Ben Constable, Bryan Franklin,

Lizwi Duma, Ryan McFie, Siyabonga Mahlinza, Landelani Ngubane, Thabo Molobi, Ben Ngubane and Langalethu Mbhele.