Former Wits ballers join front office

BRAAMFONTEIN – The association wants to have strategic partners in the development of basketball for women of all ages, stages and platforms, be it, differently-abled basketball players, to officials says former Wits power forward.

February 23, 2021

Andile Dlodlo 2 minutes read

Ipeleng Nyatlo of WITS LADIES during the Varsity Basketball 2019 match between WITS LADIES vs NWU LADIES , at the Wits Multi Purpose Hall Johannesburg, Thursday 10 October2019 Photo: Catherine Kotze/SASPA

Current and former Wits Basketball faces involved in the launch of a national women’s basketball association.

Wits University is proud to announce that several of their current and former basketball players, coaches and managers were instrumental in the planning and successful birth of the South Africa Women’s Basketball Association (SAWBA).

Former Wits Lady Bucks power forward Nicole Mangondo is part of the recently launched South Africa Women’s Basketball Association Programmes Committee. Photo: Wits University

A Wits University statement read, ‘It is often said the sport is not just merely that; a sport … it is a lifestyle. The launch of the South Africa Women’s Basketball Association will not only give credence to the notion, but it will support the growth of female basketball participation while promoting and upholding a rigid structure contrary to its previously unkempt appearance.’

Wits University’s Ipeleng Nyatlo is part of the newly launched South Africa Women’s Basketball Association. Photo: Wits University

Nicole Mangondo, who is a former Wits Lady Bucks Power Forward for the and currently part of SAWBA’s Programmes Committee, stated that the main aim of the association is to get women’s basketball organised. “The association wants to have strategic partners in the development of basketball for women at all ages, stages and platforms, be it, differently-abled basketball players, to officials.”

Wits University is proud to have their former and current basketball players, coaches and mamnagers being part of the newly launched South Africa Women’s Basketball Association. Photo: Wits University

Witsies involved in making the SAWBA’s dream become a reality are former Wits basketball assistant coach Nompumelelo Ramatsoga, Wits basketball assistant coach Manyani Maseko and former manager Ngoza Phiri-Mazarura and they are joined by current and former players Nicole Mangondo, Ipeleng Nyatlo, Thandiwe Nqanda, Rudo Kaseke and Modiegi Mokoka. These Witsies shared the interests in having an association responsible for growing the game among women.

JINITA NYALUNGU of NWU Ladies during the Varsity Basketball 2019 match between WITS LADIES vs NWU LADIES , at the Wits Multi Purpose Hall Johannesburg, Thursday 10 October2019
Photo: Catherine Kotze/SASPA

Mangondo expressed, “It is something that most women have wanted to do but haven’t necessarily had the platform nor the confidence to do so. We are now at a point where technology aids in making communication, reach and development easier but, don’t forget, the future is female. We are all educated in various fields and together with our different experiences that relate to basketball, this allows us to have the combined confidence in our abilities to see this through.”

General view as Wits wins the match 82 – 45 during the Varsity Basketball match 12 Wits v NWU at the Wits Multi-Purpose Hall, Wits University in Johannesburg on Saturday 05 October 2019
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/SASPA

Mangondo is aware that the journey to achieving this will be a tough one but is confident that if they follow the rules, they will succeed. “The next challenge is doing things the absolutely correct, diplomatic and structured way, therefore, making this a process. We won’t get it correct the first time; we are learning as we go but with everything we are trying to follow the correct procedures and structures.”

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