The resurrection of Basketball South Africa
After a pleasurable Friday afternoon there was only one more matter to attend to. The SASCOC offices on Saturday where BSA had the elections for a new Mandate to take over the BSA head quarters. After all the drama that was happening in basketball for the past number of years; earlier this year, an interim committee was elected. This committee ran for 6 month and a final committee had to be elected after the six months were up or FIBA would suspend basketball in South Africa.
That six month ended on Saturday the 25th of October, where all the nominees for the different positions including other delegates met for the election of the BSA committee, this only happened after the financial audit was done. When the audit was done and the chairs were announced, only then did I get a quick interview with the new president of basketball, Malesela Maleka, who was the only nominee for the president’s position for BSA.
Malesela Maleka, who is also the spokesperson of the SACP, is a Vaal University of Technology graduate and was also national SASSU president before Elijah Ncube from Tshwane University of Technology took over recently. Malesela was around basketball during the Campus Basketball days so he has an idea of where basketball should be and where they need to work towards. During the interview I asked Maleka a few questions that are on the minds of the basketball community in South Africa and the questions were answered like a true politician. Together with his committee, Maleka will be taking over a huge responsibility of mapping basketball in Mzansi as well as winning the trust from the basketball community. According to president, a new constitution was adopted two weeks ago, where the general assembly made a few suggestions based on the constitution, lawyers are looking at those suggestions as it’s just at the stage of technical cleaning up. Only after the corporate governance summit, where treasurers and secretary generals from the nine provinces will meet to discuss the constitution and financial issues, will the new BSA constitution will be available.
“We are going into a bosberaad with the new board; that bosberaad will plan on the basis of what has been adopted in the meeting,” said Maleka when asked about the plans for development. BSA has adopted a comprehensive plan for the u/16, u/18, seniors and mini-basketball, which will be translated into practical activities in the different provinces. Maleka also mentioned the formation of the CBL (Campus Basketball League) as BSA also received the mandate to engage with the PBL to revive a professional out fit and run it in a sustainable way. The plan is to look at potential stake holders and people they can work with to help with financing, planning and executing. The way the federation is planning to get corporates on board is by improving corporate governance. “It will take three to four years for the turn around of basketball,” said Maleka.
A women’s development strategy has been set out to improve the profile and structure in all aspects of the game, for instance, coaching, refereeing and technical officiating programmes that will be emphasized. Since one of the vice presidents is a lady, all eyes are on her in terms of pushing for women’s basketball to be in the forefronts. When asked about the GBL league that is launching next March. Maleka said that BSA is impressed with what Gauteng is trying to do, in growing the sport, therefore BSA will be watching the launching of the new league and since there is stabilization in the federation, an extensive organisation review will be done. This with the hope of bettering the game that we love so much and want to see grow.
There has not been much activity in terms of BSA’s involvement in national obligations other than the u/20 national Zone IV team that will take place in Potchefstroom in december. Something that all basketball lovers can look forward to besides the new GBL league is, the senior Inter Provincial Tournament that will happen in Port Elizabeth also in December. For the young high school kids, they too can look forward to the u/16 Inter Provincial Tournament in Sechego Limpopo.
Many are skeptical about the whole change that is happening on the Basketball Island. This change is what is needed, whether it will be a succefull change or not, the community should keep a positive mind and only hope for the best. www.mybasketball.co.za would like to congratulate all the new members of Basketball South Africa and hope they will not let the masses down.
THE NEW MEMBERS OF BASKETBALL SOUTH AFRICA
President- Malesela Maleka
1st deputy- Dr Malumbethe Ralethe
2nd deputy- Ntombizanele Papa
Treasurer General- Zanele Ngwenya
FIVE ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS
1. Mosotho Kgaka
2. Joe Machaba
3. Dali Dzingwa
4. Dumisane Tuka
5. Malusi
Article by Nthabiseng Mushi
Although I expected a report on the proceedings at the second AGM, I am impressed at the above interview. I would have loved to know Malusi by his first name. Perhaps he is man without the ball but he can sure make a difference.
I note with awe the vision that I
I do not know how I sent my comment without clicking on the submit option.
As I say, there is note of awe at the vision I seem to share with Mr Maleka. Since basketball at the moment is leaning on the institutions of higher education; it is appropiate to lure the corporate world in an environment which has been active over the years. Student market is also a good market since decisions for loyal consumption are taken at this stage. A friend of mine attested to this when he told he was going to a marriage of his friend. He hinted that the couple met when they were still at University. Although it is somewhat 7 years after their graduation, these two people are now married. This is an example of one but many important loyalty decisions made by students.
Mr Maleka mentions that it will take three to four years for basketball to be back at its feet. It is true in every way. The good results of the AGM and the proposed bosberaad will take at least two years to be met. One opinion raising from that argument is the world financial turmoil affecting the country. Let alone that, sponsors are doing a lot of research to determine the value for their sponsorships. Remember SAB reviewed their sponsorship for the soccer’s premier league and decided they will just supply the company. That means the value proposition did not meet their expectations. Besides they sponsored the league for a good number of years. According to some expects, sponsorships should not take more that 10 years. And a partnership must be over a longer period. This trend has already being introduced within soccer where all the contracts are for a period of five years.
There need to be a review of basketball in the country. Mr Maleka is correct. The first step to this review is clearly outlined in the new constitution. It is critical for every province to register more than 500 athletes in its books. That will ensure a recorded mass participation programme. There will no longer be words such as “basketball is the potential number 2 sport in the country”. The new thinking as of now is to proactively manage basketball to become one of the top sports in the country. Companies do not work on the potential. They work on reality when it comes to sponsorships.
Congratulations, Mr Maleka an company. This is the new beginnings. You have a battalion at the ground who will help you achieve your goals.
The fifth additional member must be Monwabisi Planga. Please verify and correct that, Nthabiseng.
It’s pleasing to read that the people in power have done research into what structures make sports work. The mass participation programme is one that was adopted by countries such as England and Australia years ago, and we can without a doubt acknowledge the success it has brought them. We have many talented player’s in this country, who for some basktball is their saviour therefore we can not let hem down by having people manage the sport incorrectly.
Good luck to the new management structure, always keep in mind that basketball is team sport, therefore always make decisions that are for the geater good of all those that are part of tour basketball community.
Will do so s. These are the names that were given to me, but i shall ask a source.
EBA is very pleased that BSA has turned a new leaf and hereby congratulate Mr Malesela and the executive on their appointment. We hereby extend our support for the election of Mr Malesela in particular as we are confident that he is the best candidate for the President of BSA.
As much as we have been critical in our view of the state of basketball and the direction in which we are heading, we are optimistic that mistakes of the past will not be repeated. We therefore look forward to the Bosberaad and the consequent strategic direction with the hope that all issues raised in this website will be taken into consideration.
We once again plead with the basketball community to ensure that they belong to structures as it is only through strong and vibrant associations and organisations that BSA will be sucessful.
MJ Mangadi
EBA: Chair
Do you know any team that what players for next year season.I am interested in joining any team in Gauteng next.Could you please find out for me if there are teams need of players.
I heard about the national tournament which is going to be held in Port Elizabeth.I just want to find out how true isn”t about this tournament.I heard is going to be involving the 9 provinces.Can someone with information about this provide it to the website so we will know if is true
I am concerned about the basketball structure in Limpopo Province.I the past years the way the basketball it was run it is not up to standard,You find the all committe of the Limpopo province are only people from seshego.Thinks like these need to be address.It was one of the factors which had made basketball in the province not to be sucessful.All the provinces the committe must be voted by the people who runs teams in different districts.So that people don’t abuse the power in the structures.
As we will be having the inter provincial tournament in Port Elizabeth,the limpopo Provinces in the past as use bad mentality of selecting players who represent provinces,which leads into bad results in this provinces.we need to select players on basis on form,not previous forms five years ago
I dont dispute or agree with what you are saying but the last time I remember,Limpopo came 2nd in the Men and Women seniors and won the Under 18.The bad performance I dont seem to understand,please explain.
Kim when you say last tine,when wasn’t,If you look at the way the Squad in that province is being selected is not yielding into the results.Limpopo as whole is not doing much in developing basketball.
The players that represents this province are only players that are base in seshego which is also killing basketball.
Good players in Limpopo came from one team only Nkowankowa Shooting Stars,The likes of Fumani Marhanele,Wisani Chauke, and Mixo Nyakani.
If you take this players out of the picture what is limpopo without there.If these guys leave the game,who are the players that will fill their place.
I was involved in basketball in my community for long time until i saw there is no grow in this province.How do you grow basketball when it only played in one venue(seshego),
The only team that is doing okay in that province is ladies team but man team.Now we are going into inter provincial tournament.what is the criteria of selecting players to represent province,when we don’t have senior teams in the province>how many players do you know that come from Limpopo are playing outside the province,How do you select a player which have not play competitive basketball in long time.
I can bet you that the players that will represent this province will be the same players which are not involved in basketball for long time.
I am talking about the last senior tournament that was held in Bloem 2006.Both teams made it to the finals.I was saying that because I dont know the situation in Limpopo and I wanted to continue with your brief.Development issues would be best known by people like yourselves who reside in Limpopo.There are many players that I have had a pleasure meeting that are young and have a promising career.
I do hear you and hope other Limpopo ballers can contribute so as to get all the sides of the story.My question would be If you take out requellh,tinswalo and da gal who was in Navalsig,will Limpopo perform just as you made an example of the men.
On a lighter side if those guys stopped I know players like your Zila and nakedi,maybe get them on a weight loss program….haha
Kim must get his fact correct before speaking his mind. It is not true that Limpopo played finals in the Men Championship in 2006 in Bloemfontein.KZN znd Gauteng battled for the first position with Gauteng winning the Championship.It is also disturbing to note that Basketball in Limpopo is played in one section of the province.
I think that the people of this country have been deprived their rights to participate in the sport of basketball.You find that people have always been there and for years,holding up positions.In some provinces,the same people are running the School Sports and acting as Chairpersons of provinces.There is no way one can get results.These people have continuously failed the game.
Someone mentioned that it is the same people that are running basketball now that were in the past executive.All they want is POSITION POSITIONS.There are a lot of question that we need to ask ourselves.What happened to CBL?Perhaps Ralethe and Maleka can answer these questions.The sponsors ran away.We had Telkom,Sowetan and so on.What happened to the money?Must we be scared that they have taken over?What is new?
Let us hope we will find the truth.I challange people to talk about hese issues in our game and only then in 3 years we are going to accieve something.
Lorenz
My bad…I now remember….gauteng met limpopo before the Finals and Limpopo came 4th(If I am not mistaken).Thanx for the correction.
I am loving the limpopo people speaking their minds.Welcome guys
Who are these people lorenz?
I knew that someone will raise the issue regarding limpopo. haha..Kim, our men finished 4th in Bloem. well, i do understand why you forgot. age.
Theo
well, i assume you the one i know from Shooting Stars. we can discuss all the politics in limpopo and it’ll never end as much as we discuss BSA politics. i for one am worried that we never had elections or AGM i don’t know for how many years..well, maybe 10.
at the end, i will say to you the responsibility lies with us and all the senior players in the province to ensure that we get our structure right. it is not gonna help us complaining then do nothing. we have to do that for the benefit of the young players and development.
question is, are we ready for the challenge.
Willie
What are the challenges facing the structure at the moment?
1. Building relationships with the stakeholders. Stakeholders also include consumers which you and I are. But it is the relationships with people who do not consume basketball that are going to be a challenge. How will they be convinced that the new federation can be trusted? After all, basketball leaders contributed to the demise of the professional body. They contributed negatively to the needs of their own customers.
2. Spectatorship. Spectators are crucial in the numbers. Numbers indicate the level in which the sport is supported. This is good for the economy of the sport. Just the other day I invited an acquintance to our Best Four Finals. This fellow is well versed in basketball. Upon invitation, his question was, will I play?
Another acquintance I invited on the day of the tournament asked, will you feed me? The latter attended the finals although I did not feed him.
3. Unity. The past structure was not goal oriented. At least this has attempted to lay down their intentions in their constitution. The goals will serve the one purpose of unifying the federation. Let me rather say, there is a need for an integrated solution achieve success in basketball.
What is your take?
Setlogelo
i do understand where your point of view. the problem is that we need to get our house in order as my article was refering specifically to limpopo basketball. remebber for you to build relationships with stakeholders you need to have a viable product coupled with accountability and inclusivity.
at the end of the day your current bballers need to buy into the product and then we will be able to sell it.
answering your question on challenges facing the structure (limpopo):
we never had an AGM in as many years that therefore translated into lack of accountability, vision, inclusivity, development etc. since the inception or rather since 1997, i don’t remember going to the elections or AGM.
unfortunately with a province like us you have three dominating ethic stakeholders and they all have to be catered for irrespective of who is in the provincial executive. that in itself is a challenge.
Willie
Did you refer to ethnic stakeholders?
You seem to be focused on the bureaucracy. My thinking is above that. In fact I want to influence the top echelons to vie for a flatter structure. That is what organisations are doing at the moment. Hoewver I am interested in finding the solutions to the challenges that basketball face generally.
By the way, never focus on bureaucracy? Focus on that which you can do in you district.
at the end of the day bureaucracy affects everything. i sure want to find solutions to advance the sport in my province like any other person. question is as i said before are we ready for the challenges.
Why is it that people seem to be against BUREAUCRACY and thus do not have sympathy Willie. He clearly states that he has been doing something for bball and like any developer he would like his players to get a fair chance to represent the province, otherwise what is the point.
Again, it seems that most are starting to believe the greatest trichery ie that the Devil does not exist. I work for a company which is governed by a bureaucratic sturctures ie management committee. In fact, we all work for companies that have a bureaucracy. The whole Western management philosophy is based on a solid bureaucracy.
Ask any management consultant or organisational design expert and they will tell you that without the appropriate bureaucracy your organisation is bound to fail. Why is it then when it comes to basketball we fail to understand that organisational structure is/should be linked to the goals we want to achieve?
Joe
I have tried to call you on numerous occassion but both phones are engaged.
You have noted Appropiate Bureaucracy. I suggested a flat structure as the best. The reason for that is the quickness of the decisions to be implemented. I would like to see the structures being represented by the districts at the BSA Councils. Or the distrcts should send provincial representatives to represent them. In that way, there is a horizontal communication with only one level. We have two levels now which has been a problem. It is about what individuals do to send and receive information. Something is totally wrong….
Willie,If i am worng about basketball in limpopo,this is not about politics in basketball it is the truth and reality about what’s happening in limpopo.I always believe that we had great talent in that province.Ten years ago people will sacrifice everything for basketball.
The reason why are not able to have good basketball structure,it is because people like you Willie are not willing to engage other people when it comes making decision structure in basketball.
Basketball is kept in seshego as if is the home of basketball in limpopo.If you go into area where basketball is used to be played,it has gone the down the drain.
When we use to talk we told that we are killing basketball.Since now there are no people running basketball in those areas,who is killing basketball.
The commitee structure which is in limpopo,who has put that commitee without engaging other people.I guess it is only Seshego Sonics commitee,which has only people from seshego.If want to see the growth, lets have meeting with all the people who are interested in making basketball grow in our province.
Theo
point of correction am not from Seshego. secondly, as i indicated to you earlier, are you ready for the challenge to take the issue up and try to get things right within our province. we can discuss all the politics (true or not) until infinity. what we need to do is take action and thats start with me, you and all the senior players in the province for the benefit of the coming generation of ballers.
i hope now you understand my point.
Theo & Willie
You both seem to agree that action is needed and since you are from the same province may I suggest that you exchange contacts so that you can meet and discuss the way forward.
willie,I know you not from there,but what challenge are you talking about,the same people who have failed basketball are still there.
I hope there still people who are willing to sacrifice they time for basketball in that province.If a may ask you,are you part of the commitee in the Limpopo?
what is new ,that these same people will bring basketball in the province,If people have failed for ten years in running basketball.Can we have trust in such people.
New peolpe are needed to bring new fresh ideas into the sport.
L