I’m sure by now, all the ballers are waiting with great anticipation to the biggest event in the basketball calendar. Preparations are showing that this year’s ESPN event is certainly going to live up to its hype. Excitement continues to grow with each day we get closer to the judgement day. This would be the event you would want to bring your potential sponsor or funder to get a full view of the real potential of basketball in this country. That said, let me get to business. Continue reading »
Sep 26
Open Run for the ESPN Celeb Exhibition Game Invite
Events
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Sep 02
After months of deliberations, it was concluded by the directors that Pro Sport is willing to resume running basketball in Gauteng and possibly nationally, pending permits and talks with the higher powers. With the successful delivery of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, it is clear that sport in South Africa can contribute to the economy of this country and basketball is no exception. We believe that everyone in the world of basketball should find their playing field and make their involvement worthwhile for themselves for whatever reason they see fit. Continue reading »
Mar 12
GBL 2009 season kicks off with a bang
GBL
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As you walked into the Hall at the University of Witwatersrand, you were greeted by noise from all corners and people being entertained by some basketball action and the dancing taking place. Not forgetting the beautiful people roaming around.
The Wits Hall 29 was also dressed for the occasion with banners everywhere, VIP section with food aplenty, shot clock system, computers in every direction, helpful ladies and bouncers at the door that were there to make sure that everyone behaved and got their monies worth. Some of the banners on show were the ESPN, Channel O, Darkchild, Gauteng basketball, AND. With camera crews doing the rounds from Supersport and Yfm, it was bound to attract plenty of coverage for the event sponsors. Basketball South Africa (BSA) top brass also made an appearance and it was nice to finally see the board in flesh at such an event.
The day started with D1 games for both men and women which were more competitive than anticipated. By the looks of it, teams have gone all out to recruit and strengthen for this season of basketball. If you think that D1 is a retirement village for former basketball players, you have something else coming. There were blocks, dunks, fastbreak and amazing intensity in these games to get the season going. Some in the crowd were under the impression that it was all in the sake of exhibition but the players on the court knew that it was for the points that they were balling for so there was no inch spared. Continue reading »
Mar 11
Wits University was the place to be this past weekend, Sunday the 8th of March, where the official GBL launch was held. The event was a great success and as for the turn out, well that’s questionable; granted the hall was relatively full (of dance supporters and a few ball lovers here and there) but by in the initial phases of the launch, it seemed like it was a dance competition event more than a basketball one.
Channel O, ESPN, AND1 etc…, were working together with GBL and Pro Sport Consulting for the event, but boy was the lime light on Channel O and their dancers for the Urban Dance Competition. The deco actually spoke for itself… When I first arrived at hall 29 there was only ONE Gauteng Basketball banner; “Only one people!” unlike those for ESPN and Channel O. At one stage I actually forgot that it was a basketball event because the dancing out shined the basketball.
Mar 07
2009 season tips off in Gauteng with the GBL
GBL
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The newly formed Gauteng Basketball League (GBL) is getting 2009 off to a flying start, with a jam-packed calendar of fixtures starting on 8 March.
This inaugural season promises thrills and action galore, with several clubs signing up to thrash it out for supremacy on the courts. Men’s and women’s teams will be playing their games at Wits University, the University of Pretoria, the Grace Bible Church and the Vaal.
Fixtures are scheduled for Thursdays to Sundays between March and May, with a month-long winter break in June before the competition ramps up again between July and October.
Mar 07
AND1 back in South Africa
Other
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AND1 is back in South Africa and the brand has been entrusted to DarkChild Productions. “We are very excited to have a brand that has been a part of basketball for years back in South Africa” says Cabby Magongwa (owner of DarkChild Productions). Magongwa says that this business is something that he looked to be a part of since he started DarkChild Productions in 2004 and finally the dream has come true. “Perhaps it was for a good course that it had to take this long for us to acquire the rights to distribute this magnificent brand, and this is thanks to Mike Merafe for introducing to me the opportunity through his American Sporting Goods contacts” says Magongwa.
Dec 02
This letter serves to welcome all the clubs that have shown interest in playing in the GBL 2009 season and beyond. The letter also extends an invitation to all the other teams within and around Gauteng to register to play in what we believe will be the best league in the country. A list of teams that have shown interest in playing in the league is provided further down on this document. Please carefully check to see if your team has been listed, if not, please contact Emmanuel “Manny” Mabusa (our league administrator) urgently on the contacts provided at the end of this document.
Nov 03
GBL launch press release
GBL
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South African basketball is set to experience a rebirth, following the launch of the Gauteng Basketball League (GBL) on Friday, 24 October 2008.
With the support of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, the Gauteng Basketball Association and Pro Sport Consulting have reached a working arrangement whereby one large league will be formed to increase the competitiveness of the sport in the province. In terms of the agreement, Pro Sport Consulting will be mandated to run a successful senior league in Gauteng for the GBA.
According to Cabby Magongwa of Pro Sport Consulting, fans and players alike are expected to welcome the formation of a combined senior league, particularly given the troubled years that basketball has experienced in SA since the mid-1990s.
“We believe the GBL launch signals the birth of the rebuilding of basketball not only in Gauteng, but in the country and hopefully sub-Saharan Africa as a whole.
“The basketball situation cannot get any worse in this country,” Magongwa points out. “However, we believe in the potential growth of the sport and we have drawn inspiration from our recent experience of the NBA game in London, which showcased the spectacle of the game and highlighted its commercial potential in SA.”
The two parties will be outlining their plans and strategy for the league at the launch at Primi Piatti in Rosebank at 10am on 24 October. In addition to the senior league, the focus will also be on developing up-and-coming talent through the junior basketball programme.
“As Gauteng Province, we are proud to partner with the Gauteng Basketball Association as it revives the Gauteng Basketball League,” said MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Barbara Creecy.
“This is yet another example of our Government strategy that seeks to develop, nurture and support talent in striving towards competitiveness and excellence nationally and internationally. Having laid the groundwork financially for this relaunch, as Gauteng, we look forward to a spectacular and action-packed league that will respond to our strategy of promoting Gauteng as the ‘Home of Champions’,” she added.
The GBL launch comes in the wake of the extremely successful Kasi Basketball Tour, a roadshow that travelled through Gauteng’s townships promoting the sport among the youth as well as refurbishing basketball courts. Hundreds of children, technical officials and coaches turned out to take part in this basketball bonanza, signalling that local interest and enthusiasm for the sport is high.
For more information visit www.mybasketball.co.za
Information supplied by Bridget van Oerle
