SA wheelchair basketball teams depart for IWBF Qualifiers
SA wheelchair basketball tams send-off
Wheelchair Basketball South Africa (WBSA), in conjunction with main sponsor Sasol hosted a send-off ceremony in honour of the South African men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams that will be participating in the IWBF African World Championship Qualifiers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January 24 to 29.
The men’s team will be facing Ethiopia, Kenya, DR Congo, Algeria and Egypt, while the women’s team will face Ethiopia, Kenya, Algeria and Egypt respectively, fighting for the top spots which will enable them to represent Africa Zone at the World Wheelchair Championship scheduled for later in the year, in Dubai, UAE.
Six of the current men’s squad have been promoted from the current u-23 squad: Ayabonga Jim, Bofelo Ramonne, Elverno Rossouw, Xola Yalezo, Molemo Mphomela and 16-year-old Ntando Nokama.
Max Mclean, the coach of the men’s team said the Amawheelaboys are ready to take on this task. He indicated that although covid-19 impacted them on coming together and training as a team, the squad’s dedication to their training programme during camp has been remarkable, being on the courts from as early as 05:00 and only finishing at 23:00.
The women’s team coach Ntombizile Mthombeni echoed the same sentiments, adding that the women’s squad is also mentally fit, which she believes will place them in good stead to emerge victorious in Ethiopia.
Eight of the current women team players are also part of the women’s u-25 team that participated in the 2019 World Championships in Thailand.
Sasol has been in partnership with WBSA since 2007. Nozipho Mbatha, senior manager: group brand and sponsorships at Sasol said, “Sasol continues to advocate for disabled sports, giving sportsmen and women a platform to showcase their talent and represent South Africa in competitive and international basketball tournaments.
“We wish the team all the best as they will be representing the country at these important qualifiers. Sasol believes that overcoming a disability and playing any sport at its highest level is a remarkable achievement for anyone, representing the ultimate triumph of the human spirit,” said Mbatha.
