North West claims Vodacom Wheelchair Basketball Challenge title

North West Province claimed the Vodacom Wheelchair Basketball Challenge title for the second consecutive year with a 66-34 victory over North Gauteng at Vodaworld in Midrand on Friday, bagging R100 000 in prize money.

Following the match, Vodacom’s Executive Head of Sponsorship and Regional Marketing Bronson Mokabela made a surprise announcement of the R100 000 purse.

While the two top teams in the country battled it out for the title, a star-studded line-up of sporting celebrities beat the eventual champions in the Exhibition curtain-raiser.

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs legends Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe, Jerry Sikhosana and Brian Baloyi and Vodacom Blue Bulls players Arno Botha and Ryan Nell made up a dream team.

The soccer legends quickly found that skills that held them in good stead on the pitch meant nothing on the court against a well-oiled North West team.

And although they had the physical presence of Botha, they struggled to land the shots and if it was not for the referee’s bias, it could have been a whitewash.

“These guys are unbelievable with the amount of skills they show off, it is actually amazing what they do,” said Botha.

“They are an inspiration, demonstrating a positive attitude despite the setbacks they had suffered.”

Radebe, who in his heyday was one of the finest defenders for both club and country, found it tough having to swap his legs for a wheelchair and urged people to get involved with the sport.

“The best way is to get involved and do it yourself and see how it is; people who have the use of all their limbs take small things for granted,” Radebe said.

Wheelchair Basketball South Africa chief executive Charles Saunders said that the event went a long way in integrating people from different sports.

“Having activation with the Vodacom Blue Bulls, Chiefs, Pirates and Vodacom wheelchair basketball is a great event, and something like this hasn’t been done before,” Saunders said.

Instead of hosting the event at the Vodacom Mandeville Indoor Centre, as in previous years, the match was played in the Vodadome and Vodacom World, where a court had to be assembled.