Amawheelers secure championship spot

SA again hosted the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Africa U23 Men’s Africa Zone World Championship Qualifiers at the Vodacom Mandeville Indoor Centre from February 6 to 12.

The South African Wheelchair Basketball organising committee was pleased to bid for the games following Egypt’s withdrawal as the host nation.

This was SA’s fourth time hosting the event, and the home team, the Sasol Amawheela Boys, returned to the 2025 qualifiers as the defending champions after winning the previous qualifiers held in SA in 2021.

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The Amawheela Boys performed well, securing a qualifying spot for the 2025 IWBF Championship in São Paulo, Brazil, in December.

The seven-day tournament saw teams from across Africa showcase their skills, including representatives from Liberia (West Africa), Kenya (East Africa), the Democratic Republic of Congo (Central Africa), Libya, and Egypt (North Africa).

The Amawheela showed resilience from the first game, securing back-to-back victories to advance to the finals, where they displayed zeal and tenacity against Libya, finishing with a 51-38 win.

SA started strong and maintained momentum, giving Libya little chance to recover. Germiston-based player Khanya Xundu from the iThembalethu LSEN School performed outstandingly throughout the tournament. He received an all-star award for his efforts and expressed gratitude.

“I’m humbled and proud to receive this award. I worked hard to bring my A-game, but my team made it possible. Without their support, I wouldn’t push myself to be the best,” said Xundu.

This was Xundu’s first time competing in a tournament, and he emphasised the valuable experience he gained.

“This has been a learning experience for me. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from teams from other countries, observe different playing styles and improve my skills. We are always learning to get better at the game,” he added.

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Coach Nicodemus Mmitlwe credited the team’s success to hard work and support.

“The players and the technical team were dedicated throughout this tournament, as was evident in our performance on the court. For that, I thank them,” said Mmitlwe.

Wheelchair Basketball South Africa CEO Charles Saunders congratulated the coaching staff and players for their hard work and success.

He also commended the impressive performances of the Libyan and young Egyptian teams, stating that Africa might soon see a new champion in the sport.