Mothiba builds a sporting legacy
Basketball star wants to empower youth through sports.
Soshanguve basketball star Neo Kgalabi Mothiba (34) seeks to empower young people through sports.
The retired player said he was now living his life to empower children and the youth and leaving a legacy.
He spoke to Rekord about his love for sports, retirement and the importance of giving back to the community through mentorship.
Mothiba, who has played for the national team basketball since his teens, now spends his time mentoring young and aspiring basketball players from Mabopane, Mamelodi, Soshanguve and those from St. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls in Pretoria.
Mothiba said it was easy for him to play basketball as both his parents were participating in sports.
“Growing up in a family where you would talk mostly sports and eat sports, it would have been crazy for me to end up doing something totally different form what my parents and my siblings were doing.”
Mothiba said friends in his youth teased him for participating in what they deemed a white sport
“It was a bit tough as growing up in a township 20 years ago, ” he said.
“Playing anything regarded as white was a problem for a young person who had invested passion into that sporting code…You were teased for ‘trying’ to be white.”
But his love and passion for basketball prevailed.
Mothiba said new life was keeping him quite busy
He worked full-time as head of sports and coach at St. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls.
“When I am not there, I visit sports clubs in and around Pretoria and offer my basketball knowledge which is not limited to basketball as I also know a thing or two about swimming.”
The former national captain has also founded a sports foundation which he uses a s a vehicle to educated young people about sports, offering support to aspiring sportsmen.
“Through the foundation, a lot of promising young people have managed to excel in the sports through the information we give them about how to make it in the industry,” said Mothiba.
He is chairperson of the Pretoria Schools Basketball Association, treasurer of the Gauteng Schools Basketball Association and the deputy-chairperson of the South African Basketball Players’ Association.
“I want to live a legacy and make it known that it is possible for black young children to excel in any sport…they need to just believe and not let anyone tell them otherwise,” said Mothiba.
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