Lim pride lives on the courts

Vella Nyoni

LIMPOPO – IN a country that is dominated by soccer, rugby and cricket, one can’t help wonder where basketball fits in the grand scheme of things.

The basketball team, Limpopo Pride is trying to change the way basketball is viewed in South Africa.

The team has been around for two years and is currently ranked number nine in the Basketball National League (BNL).

Asked how he got involved with the team, the administrator, Legogang Mabotja, says he had a love for basketball from an early age.

“I used to play myself, so this is something that is very close to my heart,” says Mabotja.

“This is something I have been wanting to do for 20 years now, and I am glad that BNL now offers these youngsters the opportunity to play semi-professional.”

Together with the head coach, Sinki Mphahlele, they often go to townships to scout for talented young people to join the team.

Mabotja agrees that they are not doing as well as they would like to, but he has hope for the future.

“We are currently struggling with funding, sometimes we have to take money out of our own pockets in order to buy gear for the team,” he says.

“We are hopeful that things will get better, as long as we have a team of talented and motivated young players, we will make it work.”

Mphahlele says some of the challenges they face include getting sponsorship and exposure.

“Basketball has long been viewed as an American sport, and nationally, it receives a bit of support from the department of sport and recreation. Even schools children are not given the option to play basketball, that all has to change,” he says.

Going forward, they say they hope to do better in the league and get adequate sponsorship.