Bedfordview residents lead Soweto Panthers to basketball championship
The duo not only leads the Panthers but also lends their talents to youth basketball with the intention of further developing the game countrywide.
Steven Butler and Elvis Ukpong from Bedfordview recently led the Soweto Panthers to the Basketball National League (BNL) championship.
Bulter and Ukpong are head coach and general manager of the Soweto Panthers.
Butler said that the Panthers beat the Egoli Magic 84-58 on October 28 and captured their first championship in their seven-year history in the BNL.
He said this remarkable achievement was accomplished in the first year that himself and Ukpong took their abilities to the flagship league of SA Basketball.
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Butler calls Ukpong the ‘architect’ of the Panthers.
“He brought together and flawlessly managed all the pieces required to form a championship calibre unit.
His passion for the game from the youth to our professionals is infectious, he really loves the game,” said Butler.
Butler and Ukpong work well together in leading the Panthers.
“Coach Butler knows the game of basketball on a level that’s hard to find here in SA.
I had him in mind all along in the off-season as I was tasked with assembling a championship calibre team.
He knows the game, I know the game, all that was left was distributing that knowledge to the team and building a success-oriented culture.
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I’m proud to say mission accomplished,” said Ukpong.
The duo not only leads the Panthers but also lends their talents to youth basketball with the intention of further developing the game countrywide.
“Whether it’s in a structured school setting, private instruction or just interacting with kids on the courts of area playgrounds, we feel it’s our obligation to share our knowledge of the game so that it continues to grow,” said Ukpong.
Butler said their friendship was born out of their love for basketball.
He said that they not only participate in basketball but spend most of their time watching basketball and talking about it.
“We work well together because we both have the best interest of the game as our primary motivator,” said Butler.
