Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

The South African National Defence Force will take part in Basketball South Africa's inter-provincial tournament in Port Elizabeth from December 15 to 21.

The participation of the soldiers was announced by the newly elected BSA president, Malesela "Gogga" Maleka yesterday.

"Our Defence Force has basketball teams, they will be joining the nine provincial teams who will battle it out in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality," he said.

"We are delighted to have them because it helps us in our campaign to develop the sport and ensure that we have more people being part of the game.

"As part of our pledge to revive basketball, our executive is bringing back the inter-provincial tournament, which last took place in 2007."

Maleka said the aim of this tournament was to select a training squad as part of the preparations for international competitions next year.

"There are several competitions that will take place across the world next year, we will be starting with our qualifiers in Zone Six [Southern Africa]."

Maleka said they were encouraged by the fact that the South African players who had gone to the United States to further their studies are coming back.

"We have players like Tsakane Ngobeni, Lesego Molebatsi, Emma [Emmarentia Ledwaba], who are now back in the country. As for Emma, we are happy that she is also offering a helping hand to our youth by coaching them."

Maleka said they were also happy about the formation of the Gauteng Basketball League .