National teams prepare for 2014
Wheelchair Basketball South Africa unfolded future plans for the federation in all competitions before the kick-off of their 2014 campaign.
The federation, working together with French coach Franck Berlin, has engaged in back-to-back camps for the national teams.
In these camps, promising players and fresh talent from various provinces will spearhead the challenge with the hope to impress national selectors.
The South African U/23 and senior men’s teams participated in a number of camps during February and have two more scheduled for March.
The two camps will take place on March 14 and 15 at the Vodacom Mandeville Indoor Centre in Bez Valley.
According to Wheelchair Basketball director of operations, Charles Saunders, the women’s junior and senior teams will also begin their camps at the end of March.
Saunders said these national camps will serve as an opportunity to identify a pool of talent from different provinces.
He said talented players from different development structures such as the Vodacom Nationals and Juniors, Wheelchair Basketball Provincial Leagues and School Sport will take part in the camps.
“Our men’s U/23 side faced stiff competition in the World Championships held in Turkey last year. After playing against 12 European teams, we finished 12th,” said Saunders.
The senior men and women’s teams are preparing for the 2015 Paralympic Qualifiers.
The venue for the qualifiers has not yet been announced, but South Africa did place a bid to host the event.
“In our quest to secure the bid, we will be up against Morocco and Egypt,” said Saunders.
