Jul 26
Here are some extracts from the Newsletter that I received regarding Wheelchair basketball
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It was the Confederation Cup final and USA; the underdogs so nearly caused an upset of the century as Brazil calmly took the game away from them (thank you to VISA for the invitation to an amazing game of football). Bafana Bafana restored pride in their showing against Spain and the mighty British & Irish Lions roar was some what muffled as the Sasol Springbok’s grit and die hard determination kicked their way to victory to take the tour 2 – 1in an epic battle of supremacy and last but not least, IWBF Africa saw its first Wheelchair Basketball Womens team return home victorious to South Africa with a Bronze medal from the America’s Cup and the SA U23 National team embarks upon a daunting campaign to bring a world ranking back to Africa.
Last weekend saw the struggling former champions, the Visa Wings fall out of the Top 4 as they lost both their games against the Eagles and the Pumas but the upset was Eagles triumph over the Blades and repeated it as they beat the Gestetner Pumas although the Pumas forge their dominance as log leaders And finally, our U23 National Team finishes off their final preparation for the IWBF Junior World Cup this week as they jetted off to Paris to play for a place in history only to have the Airports company forget their Wheelchairs in SA! Continue reading »
Tagged with: Argentina • australia • Bafana Bafana • Brazil • El Salvador • FIFA Confederations Cup • Guatemala • IWBF • japan • Mexico • Nicaragua • Paris • sa • Spain • springboks • Sweden • USA • Wheelchair basketball SA
May 21
South Africa is a complex society with complex issues to resolve and basketball is no stranger as far as issues to resolve goes… Over the past few months we have had cries for referees to be brought to order and Mybasketball touched the surface as far as that is concerned…Now it’s time to discuss another important aspect of our game, the coaches…
Training our coaches…
Year in and year out, we have teams participating in different competitions all over the country whether it be at mini basketball, junior level or senior level and most of these teams are led by a coach, a caretaker or a teacher…
Some of these coaches have gained experience from books, DVDs, television and through the art of learning from someone else but most of them have no formal training and those are few and far in between. BSA has promised to address this void in development of coaches but until then it’s the Do It Yourself model that is the norm in the country. Continue reading »
Tagged with: Basketball • Basketball South Africa • BSA • NBA • sa • South Africa
Mar 16
After frantic calls to BSA members and various GBA members, the issue was somehow resolved after Tsepo Nyewe (GBA chairman), who had sent out the invitation to the schools, arrived and spoke to the organizer of the drummies and the trials finally got underway.
The turnout was very good, with more than 70 boys and well over 40 girls. There was an abundance of talent on show especially from the boys section. With a bit more preparation time, the teams would bring back the gold, but as usual there is little to no time for that with the final team being selected this coming Saturday 21 March and the tournament taking place the following week.
Continue reading »
Tagged with: Basketball • Gauteng Basketball Association • Gauteng Basketball League • GBA • GBL • Polokwane • sa • South Africa
Feb 07
Before the Camp began and even after it was underway the underlying problem around it was the fact that the venue was moved at the last minute and the communication to the affected players and coaches wasn’t forthcoming in a speedy manner. With BSA still relying heavily on the support of the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa, they had to bring it to the HPC in Pretoria because of their existing relationship with SRSA so the process was going to be smoother than taking it to the North West University High Performance Institute. But with the change of venues, this created a series of problems for BSA as far as trying to organize adequate venues for the teams to practice.
With the teams arriving in Tshwane on Wednesday 4th February in the evening, the first real contact the coaches had with the players was on Thursday at the High Performance Center in Pretoria. For the first 2 days of the camp, the players stayed at the Protea Hotel and finally moved to the HPC on Friday. With practice venues an issue, The men spent the 1st day of training on Thursday at Pilditch Stadium indoor center in Pretoria West and the ladies managed to organize the indoor facility at St Mary’s DSG in Hatfield even if they had to use the outdoor courts at Tuks in their afternoon session. With 4 players missing from the men and 3 from the ladies team due to various reasons like work and studies; the attendance of the camp by both the ladies and the men’s team was satisfactory if not excellent.
On the 2nd day of the camp, Basketball South Africa president Malesela Maleka and first Vice President Dr Malumbete Ralethe spoke to the players to welcome them and explain to them what they expected from them in terms of responsibility and the way forward for the senior team. Later in the evening, players got a chance to raise their concerns in a private meeting with the BSA management and hopefully this is a sign of things to come from this new BSA board.
Continue reading »
Tagged with: Basketball • Basketball South Africa • Botswana • BSA • Madagascar • Mozambique • North West University • North West University High Performance Institute • sa • South Africa • SRSA • University of Pretoria • University of Pretoria High Performance Center • Zambia • Zimbabwe
Jan 19
The moment everybody has been waiting for, to see who takes the 2008 Seniors Tournament trophy. The spectators, predominately the participants, are ready and waiting.
1st quarter
Limpopo gets the jump ball and the game starts with a foul on R. Molema.
The game is moving at a very slow pace, it’s been 2minutes and still no baskets have been scored. The game is becoming very monotonous with the ball going to both ends of the courts and no baskets being scored. At last…T. Mfamadi breaks the ice and scores the first basket of the game receiving a foul in so doing. GP seems to have found their form while Limpopo is struggling to find their feet.
This is a game of fouls as the whistle seems to blow every few seconds. Both teams get intercepts yet battle to convert. GP decides to change things a bit and with 2minutes left they introduce L, Mtsweni. This proves to be a smart decision by the coach- L, Mtsweni scores two 3pointers successively.
She has earned the title of ‘super-sub.’
Score: GP-25 Limpopo- 10 Continue reading »
Tagged with: Basketball • Basketball South Africa • BSA • Gauteng • GP • Limpopo • sa • South Africa
Jan 19
Fans are present, teams warming up; one can almost taste the tension as people hope for a more promising final; as the ladies final was nothing more than a disappointment.
The refs are intact and ready for the action; the starting five is on the court- jump ball.
1st quarter
KZN gets the jump ball and one can see the determination on their faces. The first basket is a 3 by C Gilchrist, the captain setting the example. Gauteng answers back with an easy basket from N Nthuping. The game at this point is very even stevens with little promises of any action.
The big guys are pushing, elbowing, posting to gain position. The referring is competent and the best this tournament- this should give an indication of how poor the refing has been. End of quarter. Can KZN maintain or increase their lead?
Score: KZN- 17 GP- 16 Continue reading »
Tagged with: Basketball • Basketball South Africa • BSA • Gauteng • GP • KwaZulu Natal • KZN • sa • South Africa
