THE Vodacom Mandeville Indoor Sports Centre played host to the 2016 edition of the Vodacom Wheelchair Basketball Challenge Top 4 where North West, Gauteng, Eastern Province and the South African u.23 teams competed for the title.
The four teams qualified for the Vodacom Wheelchair Basketball Challenge Top 4 by finishing at the top of the standings during the 2016 men’s nationals that took place at Mandeville from October 18 to 22.
The bronze medal match was scheduled as the opening game for the day between Eastern Province and the SA u.23 teams. Unfortunately the latter had to withdraw due to key injuries to some of their players and Eastern Province walked away with the bronze medal.
The final between North West and Gauteng was the much-anticipated rematch of the 2015 final and it didn’t fail to deliver.
It was an emotional win for the players and their fans as North West produced some high-intensity wheelchair basketball, to be crowned champions.
Vodacom sponsorship specialist, Hein Ferreira, proudly handed over a cheque for R100 000 to the winning captain, Simanga Mbhele, with half the cheque’s value being injected directly back into the development of wheelchair basketball, which is overseen and approved by WBSA.
Vodacom awarded R25 000 to the runners-up, with the cheque being handed over to captain Jaco van Niekerk from Gauteng Province.
“Vodacom is proud to be associated with Wheelchair Basketball in South Africa and the exceptional athletes who participate in the sport,” said Ferreira.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
