POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Basketball Association (LBA) has officially introduced Tumi Mapela as the new head coach to guide the senior men’s team.
Originally from Mamelodi, north of Pretoria, Mapela comes with the advantage of having coached at professional level, including his recent role as assistant coach of the Soweto Panthers.
The former Mamelodi Bees coach replaces Sinky Mphahlele, who was at the helm of the Limpopo team during the previous national league campaign.
Mapela is not new to coaching basketball in Limpopo as he guided the provincial side, then known as the Polokwane Trailblazers, in 2013.
The Pride technical team believe they are on course to right the wrongs of the previous season in which they finished in 10th place on the 12-team national league log.
The head honchos of LBA reckon the appointment of a coach from outside the province is a breath of fresh air as the team needs a different tactical approach to the upcoming season.
Pride Team Manager, Lebo Mabotja, says the returnee coach brings experience and knowledge to the province. “We have appointed someone with the required skills and vast experience to save us from the doldrums of the previous campaign. The new coach understands the dynamics of the national league.”
Mabotja’s sentiments were echoed by LBA Chairperson, Gazani Khoza. “We chose him because of the similarity between the Limpopo and the Mamelodi versions of the game where he comes from. For many years, we have had exchange programmes with the Mamelodi team and he was part of that agenda. Suffice it to say he is no stranger to our game and its traditions,” said Khoza.
