Varsity Basketball returns to the Wits Multi-purpose Sports Hall in October
Varsity Basketball returns to the Wits Multi-purpose Sports Hall from October 4 to 6 and from 10 to 12 with the finals on October 13. Significantly, Varsity Women’s Basketball will make its debut this year.
Wits men’s and women’s basketball captains have lauded Varsity Basketball as an important cog in the growth of South African basketball.
Varsity Basketball returns to the Wits Multi-purpose Sports Hall from October 4 to 6 and from 10 to 12 with the finals on October 13. Significantly, Varsity Women’s Basketball will make its debut this year.
Eight men’s teams will compete, namely current champions Wits, University of Johannesburg (UJ), North-West University (NWU), Vaal University of Technology (VUT), University of Pretoria (UP)-Tuks, University of Western Cape (UWC), University of Cape Town (UCT) and University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), while the four women’s teams will be NWU, UCT, VUT, and Wits.
Wits Women’s captain Danja Lunnemann said that Varsity Basketball is massively important for the development of not only South African basketball, but for women’s basketball as well.
“Varsity Basketball is such a great platform for women to showoff their talent in never-ending fight to have women up there too at the same time. I’m just glad the women’s Varsity Basketball league had to wait only one year after the first ever men’s competition. We’re so excited to show off our talent and play the sport we love.”
Lunnemann said:“Varsity ball is important because it adds extra growth to the development of basketball in South Africa generally. Varsity Basketball will show South Africa that there’s more talent out there. This is a great stepping stone to grow basketball in South Africa.”
Angelo Quinn, one of Wits men’s team leaders, is looking forward to another shot at the title and is grateful for the platform that Varsity Basketball provides.
“We are looking to win again. Our team has had its difficulties this year, but we’ve kept the goal of winning Varsity Basketball in our heads. Our team has always had great chemistry, we are strategic about how we beat our opponents, and we have a lot of experience.
“Our only downfall could be our only real rivalry, UJ – so look out for that game.”
“Varsity Basketball is the first real platform that high school and university students can really aspire to, and take real appreciation for. You feel credited as a baller, and at the same time you have a great opportunity to pursue academia,” Quinn said.
