The much awaited revival of basketball in South Africa has been set in motion following the conclusion of a five-year exclusive broadcast deal with SuperSport International.
Basketball South Africa and SuperSport International announced the sealing of the deal at a media briefing attended by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula. The event was also the platform for the re-launch of the Basketball National League, with former soccer boss Albert Mokoena as its chairperson.
SuperSport will be a broadcast partner to the premier men’s league, giving the sport the impetus needed to harness the sport’s popularity among the youth. Matches will be broadcast live, primarily on SuperSport Select, and across all platforms, including mobile and online, throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
A total of 11 franchises make up the league, which will be played in a north-south conference system starting on 27 September.
“This is an exciting time for basketball in our country,” Mokoena said. “For the first time basketball will now have a truly national premier league, giving our top players the opportunity to excel and to compete with the best that Africa has to offer. This will set the stage for the revival of basketball to become a major player in sport in our country.”
During the first year, venues in Johannesburg and Durban will be used. The Northern Conference will include teams such as Egoli Magic, North West Goodfellas, Soweto Panthers, Mbombela Wildcats, Polokwane Trailblazers and the Tshwane Suns.
The Southern Conference will comprise Cape Mountaineers, Kimberley Diamonds, PE Wind Breakers, Free State Golden Warriors and KZN Marlins. The league will begin with a round-robin section before advancing to cross-conference quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final on 6 December.
Mbalula said the announcement of the broadcast partnership was just the beginning of bigger things to come for basketball. “This deal must ignite a revolution in the sport and also grow the game to attract talented players from beyond our shores,” Mbalula said.
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam said South Africa sports comprised of the ‘big three’, cricket, soccer, rugby and now basketball. “We would like to see netball taking its rightful place as to make up the ‘big five’ of our sports and build a powerful basketball culture.”
