Supporters packed the basketball court at St David’s Marist Inanda on October 24 as King Edward VII School (KES) secured a hard-fought victory to advance to the tournament final.

With the stands packed with supporters, both teams took to the court ready for battle.

KES came out firing, taking an early lead and putting the pressure on the hosts with confident play and sharp execution.

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St David’s fought hard in front of its home crowd, delivering a spirited performance and refusing to give up. However, KES maintained its advantage to secure the victory and advance in the tournament.

Eyes on back-to-back titles

KES coach Manny Bukweya was pleased with his team’s performance, particularly the opportunity to give younger players valuable experience on the big stage.
“The highlight of the game is putting in my rookies. The guys are going to play next year again, and they can step up to the moment,” said Bukweya.

As defending champions, he said the team was determined to lift the title again.

“We’ve won it before, but we’ve got everything to gain. We want to win it again,” he said.

Pride in defeat

Despite the defeat, St David’s coach Nkululeko Xaba ‘Coach X’ Xaba praised his players for their determination and fighting spirit throughout the match.

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“The boys played with a lot of heart, a lot of effort. No point in time did they drop their heads, and that’s what I’m really happy about,” said Xaba.

He acknowledged KES’s performance while encouraging his team to keep pushing forward.

“The better man won today. Either way, every dog has its day and we’ll catch them next time,” he said.

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