Basketball couple share their love for the sport
Ex professional basketball player and Morningside resident, Tichafara Mabiza, shares his journey of how basketball changed his life.
To be the best at any sport, one has to study the legends of the game. Morningside resident, Tichafara Mabiza’s first basketball game in his late teens was one of the greatest moments in his life and impacted some of his life decisions.
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Mabiza has always been on top of his academics and sports.
“I’ve always been a person of sports. I played tennis at a high level when growing up, but something changed in me once I picked up a basketball for the very first time. When I went to study at the University of Pretoria, I joined the basketball team as a point guard and quickly gained attention which led me to captain the team,” said Mabiza.
While studying actuarial and financial mathematics, the student of basketball would often purchase tapes of NBA games and study the movements, hand coordination, passes, and shots of the professional players. His professional career began after the 2013 launch of the Basketball National League by Fikile Mbalula, who was the minister of sports at the time.
“During that time, I played for a team called Tshwane Suns and we managed to win the Inaugural Four Nations Challenge twice in a row and the following year, I was awarded the MVP [most valuable player] in the league.”
After his professional career, Mabiza decided to play a role, behind the scenes, as an assistant coach. Later, he followed his career path as a data analyst and purchased a home in Morningside Manor with his wife Natalie Pike who was an international basketball player.
They had a bright idea. “We had a tennis court which we changed to a basketball court, and we had an idea to start a basketball academy after seeing an increase in children holding basketballs in our area.”
The couple started the Morningside Mustangs Basketball Academy and Mabiza urged individuals between the ages of four and 18 who would love to perfect their skills in the sport to join the club.
For more information contact the club on 060 390 2172 or on info@risingsuns.co.za
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/313844/local-basketball-coach-takes-his-team-to-the-big-leagues/
