United States of America’s highly rated sport of basketball is expanding in popularity among ardent enthusiasts nationally including in Alex making it, a sport of choice alongside the more traditional soccer, cricket and rugby.
This is being propelled by the USA’s National Basketball Association’s (NBA) sponsorship of the game’s development after realising its interest and talent among local youth.
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Former Alex player and now coach at Alex Basketball Academy, Mohlatlego Nakeng said there were many talented players from Alex. “Aside from soccer, many of them would, if asked, prefer to try the dunk at the hoop than [a shot] at the goal posts,” he said.
Realising this prospect, the NBA introduced a structured development setup for the NBA’s Gauteng Basketball Association. This according to Nakeng, was boosted by the added advantage of education through sports scholarships offered by local universities to several township youth enabling them to obtain tertiary qualifications while also playing the game provincially and nationally.
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“In 2015, the University of Joburg would field a starting line-up of Alex players only. Currently, two brothers from the township play for professional Tswane Suns team and another boy is on a basketball scholarship in Grade 10 at Jeppe High School.”
This Nakeng said, should be enough motivation for players as, like the American teams which tap players from the university leagues, the sport provides poor youth with education which helps them exit untenable conditions by giving them prospects for a better life.
He said while the NBA provided guidance and sponsorship of kits for development teams attending tournaments, the city council supported them with transport when requested.
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“We pin our hopes on the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and the corporate sector to take the game to the next level through sponsoring the academy’s under 15s to 18s boys and girls, the junior NBA leagues and the U13 to U18 teams in the school’s league to represent Alex at district, regional and national competitions later this year.”
Details: Mohlatlego Nakeng 074 261 8531.
