Limpopo basketball to get a fresh start

LIMPOPO – The Limpopo Basketball Association (Liba) will hold its Annual General Meeting this Saturday at the Seshego Stadium clubhouse.

The all-inclusive meeting is envisaged to be attended by affiliate clubs, districts’ federations, school sport representatives, university and college structures, and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

According to the original 11-item agenda, delegates will deliberate on the progress made in school basketball and the blueprint for the new season. Several matches will also be played. Young players who campaign in Liba’s domestic leagues contribute to the school programme’s mass participation.

The previous school season has truly been a phenomenal year for Limpopo school basketball and Liba, as the provincial governing structure, will once again try to raise the bar.

Meanwhile, the participation of the provincial senior team, Pride, will also form part of the meeting.

The 2015 National Basketball League was one of the worst seasons for Pride’s campaign under the guidance of head coach, Sinky Mphahlele.

In the 12-team national league, Pride finished in 10th position on the log standings, just above minnows Eastern Cape Windbreakers, and Zebras from the Northern Cape.

Mphahlele – that is if he will still be at the helm of the team – will have his work cut out for him to convince the provincial leadership under Gazani Lebani Khoza that he can still restore the province’s pride and redeem himself.

Under his tutelage, out of 11 outings played at the Wembley courts in Johannesburg, he managed to register a paltry three victories and lost eight times.

The mass exodus of several key players from the team and the subsequent introduction of new players who could not gel with the remaining old guard was thought to be one of the main causes.

The players are said to have left the team for greener pastures.

However, Khoza reckons there is a glimmer of hope for the provincial game.

An optimistic Khoza said: “Not all is doom and gloom on the provincial basketball landscape.

“There is an overwhelming atmosphere that basketball in the province will continue to grow by leaps and bounds.

“We have dedicated men and women who are keen to take this game forward.

“Through their commitment, we will continue to raise the standard of the game with the main focus on developing youngsters. We will deliberate these matters during the weekend meeting.”