Getting to know Thabo Sefolosha
September 11, 2008 in News
Aside from SA’s Wheelchair Basketball team, Thabo Sefolosha is probably South Africa’s other basketball success story, and is currently a member of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
“I feel as much South African as I do Swiss”
IOL published an article about Thabo, called “‘I’m as much South African as Swiss’”, that is worth a read.
“…the likes of Bryant, James and even for that matter Jordan certainly don’t have as colourful a tale to tell about their arrival in the big leagues as does Sefolosha.”
It’s great to see that Thabo respects his SA roots and has not forgotten where he comes from, even contributing to the recent Basketball Without Borders.
Good luck out there Thabo!
Thabo has his own official site at thabosefolosha.com
yani8m said on September 19, 2008
kim…
…i’ve been playing ball since 9th grade…i’m currently in my final year @ WITS and still play ball BUT cannot (for the life of me) remember ever seeing an article done on ANY one of the 3 players you mentioned. I mean their names may have been mentioned as part of the SA squad BUt t@s just about it.
The only reason why we know who they are and what they do is plainly due to WORD OF MOUTH…you might have seen them @ a game DOMINATING on court and asked who’s that OR heard bout their crazy dunks from a friend. And might i remind you, that’s just in the basketball field.
Its sad that not even a single page (as far as i kno) has been dedicated to any of these players.
I think they deserve more than just mere verbal props…they need to go down in history as SOME OF THE GREATEST B-BALL PLAYERS IN SA along with numerous others, I have the privilege of watchin every weekend at Hall 29 or Tukkies!!!
And the way I see it…it’s gonna have to start with me and you and anyone else who gives a damn…whether in a small community paper or a blog on facebook because relying on “the powers that be” and blaming them for their f%@* ups, just ain’t cutting it anymore!!!
Oh and I get the impression you think I’m a part of MyBasketball (as in the team that created the site)…LOL!!! Nah…would love to be a part of it though…I’m just a fan like you that enjoys loggin on for my daily dose of basketball. So i’m sorry BUT i’m clueless as to how many foreign based players MyBasketball has interviewed BUT I must say, IT’S A GOOD QUESTION!!!
Darren said on September 19, 2008
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to leave a constructive comment here.
We hear ya – everyone wants to know more about SA’s best players – including us! Since there are a lot of ‘undiscovered’ great players out there that no one has heard of, having profiles on these players (and teams) is definitely part of the short-term plan here.
So please, keep the comments and suggestions coming and we’ll be working on this aspect of basketball info – and we’ll probably be asking for everyone’s help soon to identify and get info on these amazing players.
Thanks again!
yani8m@yahoo.com said on September 19, 2008
Thanks Darren…can’t wait to find out about Mzansi’s finest B-BALL players!!!
yani8m@yahoo.com said on September 19, 2008
You might want to start with Kim’s suggestions…that’s a good place…i think!!! AND THEN maybe one day, we’ll FINALLY have a Basketball Hall of Fame…once we’ve covered all the legends of course…and personally, i’d like to nominate Neo on that note (in advance of course)!!!
Darren said on September 19, 2008
yani8m, if Neo can hit the 79 foot jumpers he’s promised to be working on (in the comments on this article), then I’m sure he’ll be a unanimous inclusion
Victor said on September 19, 2008
Well put Darren, it’s good to be back after a enforced break but I have kept up to date with most of the comments.
Yani, YES we are going to be doing profiles on some of Msanzi’s finest so be patient for a little while.
WATCH OUT FOR THE HOOD BECAUSE IT WILL BE HUGE.
ciao,V
yani8m said on September 22, 2008
Thanks V…like i said earlier…can’t wait!!!
Thapelo said on September 30, 2008
Hey Yani
What exactly has Neo done to be nominated to the Hall of Fame? Locally he has done alright, internationally- I don’t think so. Hall of Fame is an honour – there are guys like Graig Gilchrist that have down allot for ball in this country and internationally. Cant just throw names out there…….lol…….
Keep it real,….THIS IS BALL BABY
Thapelo said on September 30, 2008
By the way, nothing against Neo, he is a good player
Setlogelo said on September 30, 2008
Thapelo
Please follow the topic. Then you will be able to make an informed comment!!!
yani8m said on October 1, 2008
thanks setlogelo…you took the words right outta my mouth…well some of them…
anyway, thapelo…why you gotta be such a hater…last time i checked i was entitled tomy opinion (and unfortunately…so are you…though i do think its a bit warped).
like setlogelo said…if you’ve been following this conversation from the beginning you might (
yani8m said on October 1, 2008
….you might (AND T@S A BIG MAYBE) come to the realisation t@ Neo was just a suggestion (my suggestion). I have the privilege of watching him and many other players ball every weekend…you even said so yourself…he’s a good player.
As for Gilchrest and numerous other players…i don’t get to see them every other weekend so i cannot say for certain whether they deserve the same honour or not.
AND WHAT’S WRONG WITH DOING OKAY (OR PRETTY WELL) IN JUST SOUTH AFRICA??? You’re now implying t@ one has to go overseas to get noticed…t@s just messed up…why you gotta hate on brother who’s doing well in his own country…w@ did he school to the ground during a game??? Do you have a personal vendetta???
Its a hall of fame…thaps…if you got the credentials…which i think alot of SOUTH AFRICAN BASED players have…then you should qualify!!!
And remember…Neo does alot more than just play…it’s not just about ball and representing the country…its about giving back to the community.
So “baby”…i suggest you scroll right back up to the top of this page and start reading and like setlogelo said…then maybe (ANOTHER BIG MAYBE)
yani8m said on October 1, 2008
you’ll be able to drop an informed comment!!! lata…
(my bad on the page breaks in btwn…had a s***ty keyboard!!!)
Victor said on October 2, 2008
Hey there,
We’ll try and cover as many ballers as possible, either here on the main site under profiles or on the hood. So even the players from the old days are going to get a mention, not just the young bucks… ciao,V
Thapelo said on October 2, 2008
I aint hating on the brother, like I said dude is alright ball player…….Hall of Famer, don’t think so……..my opinion! And nope no “personal vendetta”. I’m just saying like it is. Been around ball for a long time now and yes you would have to have played locally and internationally to be given such an honour. I’ll give you an example that many people don’t know about. Tsakane Ngobeni is an ALL AMERICAN, which means, he was selected as one of the 12 best player in the US, not the state or province- the US. Another honour he received was I think two year ago-selected in the TOP 12 players in Africa……bet you didn’t know that., but that’s besides the point………the point is- do I consider Tsakane a Hall of Famer, sadly NO……cause he hasn’t done anything in SA that has impressed me……I guess we could blame it on his bad knee. But im just saying though, although Neo does things for his community- Hall of Fame is about what you achieve on the court.
Ball or go home
Thapelo said on October 2, 2008
By the way Yani…..I’m un schoolable………
Joe said on October 2, 2008
Thapelp
Since you do not consider Neo a Hall of Famer please give us your criteria!
neo said on October 2, 2008
I think our minds are being clouded by the media. Whgen you say hall of famer ito basketball you think USA. We have to be realistic, we dont have that kind of extensive competitions and international participation. Because Tsakane was not prominent in SA bball because he was in the states are you going to say he is not one of the best players we ever produced or just because Patrick Engelbrecht is unknown to SA baller does that meanhe’s not a worthy candidate.
Like Joe said lets all submit our criterion and from that we can discuss whether a player can be in the so called Hall of Fame.
Setlogelo said on October 2, 2008
Under correction, the national basketball structures have artifacts which will be used for a museum one day. I remember vividly someone responding to my comment in a certain meeting. Between Charles, not Forster and John Domingues.
Thus there are documented all time great players who have not been published. Perhaps a volunteer can source such information from the federation.
Sifiso 'Money" said on October 2, 2008
Wasup ya’ll! I think it will prove to be a tall order to come up with a criterion as it’s suggested. The reason I am saying this is because the we could say Senior National Team colours do count but we all know that not everyone who was/is good did play in the National Team (for whatever reasons not being discussed today) and we all know how our National Team has been performing in Africa. We don’t have a proffessional league which would have made it a bit easier as well to can choose the best players.
Maybe before we start trying to come up with the criterion we firstly need to make clear if it’s based on playing, maybe coaching, maybe admin or candidates have to be actively involved in more than just palying or coaching as well. Then I think it would be easier to can identify deserving individuals.
Well I won’t even try and submit any candidates at this point cause to me green is green and black is black and it won’t change cause I know you. Some names that keep getting mentioned here to me are and will always be just people who participated in the sport and never really made any outstanding difference worth a hall of fame not even an interview (even by REAL GOBOZA) for that matter.
There is a lot of sucking up and face buying here than actual facts and that will cause this to loose direction at some point. Chosing people cause we love but not cause they really deserve.
Thapelo said on October 2, 2008
I agree with Sifiso
neo said on October 2, 2008
Sifiso
Indirectly you have just given the masses a layout of what the criteria should be. No saying that all of them are valid but they are very good suggestions. Lets work with what we have and what we had.
Vic
Maybe you can assist in this regard. Is it possible to find people from different provinces, that you can trust, to give you profiles of players they think are worth talking about.
LETS NOT MAKE THIS PERSONAL. the reason Sfiso you mention the guys who were always overlooked is because you know a few players who neglected by the national team. I learnt my basketball from some of the best players in South Africa at their time.
Joe said on October 2, 2008
Sfiso & Thapelo
If we cannot come up with a criteria then we should not be having this discussion, cause then it is pointless. Alternatively we then accept anyone that according to some is deserving without questioning their status as you guys are doing.
Uless you come with a criteria, stop hating.
Yani said on October 2, 2008
Thapelo…
…we’re talking about the “Hall Of Fame” not the “Hall of Craig Gilchrist”. Therefore, Neo was MY SUGGESTION and the same can be said for Craig…he was yours BUT YOU DON’T HEAR ME SHUTTING YOU DOWN. I’m sure every baller has their own idea of who is deserving of such a title…BUT to sit here and post comments which put down other peoples’ suggestions (just cause you think you’re right) is just messed up.
I haven’t been exposed to as much national/international basketball as some people BUT my opinion is based on what I see every other weekend and maybe the little snippets we’re graced with on Slam Dunk. That is your players like Neo, Tsakane (as you mentioned above), Nyakallo, Fumani, Tuka, Thabo, Lesego, Quintin, Joe Mazibuko and numerous others…THIS IS WHAT I AND MANY OTHERS BALLERS SEE and that’s cause I’m based in Jozi. I’m sure people in Cape Town, Durban and Pietermaritzburg would surely disagree with me.
The whole idea of listing criteria and puttin up suggestions from all walks of life was so that we could actually choose from that list.
The fact of the matter is we cannot have ONLY one “Hall of Famer” BUT a different one every year (or w@ever the defined period is)…SO YES, Craig might qualify, Tsakane might qualify, Neo might qualify BUT @ the end of the day…all players (based here or elsewhere) should be considered for whatever recognisable contribution they’ve made to SA basketball…
AND FOR REAL…the hating’s gotta go!!!
Thapelo said on October 2, 2008
Chill out, I am not fighting with you…. but all those player you mentioned will crumble against international players – judge them on how they perform in SA- I guess we could do that.
Peace
Ball or Go Home