Manyehlisa Lehohla - The Big Tip Off

Ntunja believes Tigers have a championship DNA

Tigers fine-tuning in key areas for Elite 16

EXITING the O.R. Tambo international airport, one of the most noticeable features at this national asset is a billboard of the legendary point guard and Cape Town Tigers assistant coach, Vincent Ntunja.

Throughout his playing career, Gugulethu-born Ntunja has also dabbled in modelling and promoting brands. He has appeared on billboards, television advertisements and to top it all off, he is a brand ambassador for sports apparel company, Under Armour. This ability for Ntunja, a former basketball player in South Africa, to be marketable is a sign of the game’s infinite potential for growth. However, ongoing governance issues plaguing the sport in the country make it a far fetched dream for most players.

“We have to start by asking, who is managing the game? Who provides the guidelines for basketball from a business and branding perspective? Those are vital people to have within the administration of the game. Right now, along with other issues, basketball lacks in that department,” said the 40-year-old Ntunja. “Despite what’s happening with the game in the country, it has not stopped me from achieving my goals. Under Armour approached me and it was clear from our discussion, we had mutual interests. They understood my drive, my intention to not only be a basketball player but also to be marketable outside the game.

Second Picture — **Cape Town Tigers coach Vincent Ntunja has made the most of his opportunities. Pictures: Big Tip Off**

“So, if we fix the governance issues and place people in the right places in terms of administration, there will be a good product in South Africa. The pie is big enough for everybody to get a slice.”

The former national team player says appearing on the billboard that encourages and promotes tourism in the country is part of leaving a legacy.

“It’s massive! To appear on a billboard at OR Tambo is a milestone. Can you imagine how many people pass through the airport daily? Having your face planted there signals something. It’s a message to every child that it is possible.

“As I speak to you right now, I am at a shoot in Fish Hoek, and I am enjoying myself. It’s for a purpose and I don’t take these opportunities for granted. I can feed my family and have the chance to travel. I am grateful.”

On matters related to the basketball court, recently retired Ntunja and the new ‘it’ team in South African basketball, Tigers are riding a wave of success. Two weeks ago, the American-owned club qualified for the Elite 16 qualifiers of the Basketball Africa League. The Tigers left the preliminary qualifying tournament held at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus with a 3-0 record after beating Roche-Bois Warriors (Mauritius), Matero Magic (Zambia) and Ferroviario Da Beira (Mozambique).

Ntunja expressed his joy at the achievement of the Tigers and stressed that a lot went into getting the team where it is.

“We are elated because of what we achieved in a short space of time. We did not take any shortcuts in preparing ourselves and getting the players to be in tune with each other. Remember that these are guys from different backgrounds and attitudes,” said the former Western Cape Mountaineers player. “Certain feelings or emotions can come to the fore. That’s where we come in to help manage the situation. These are professional players. We appreciate their input and why they are here.”

Having taken a step closer to the BAL tournament, the Tigers are contributing to changing the attitude towards basketball in South Africa.

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“We are changing the narrative about basketball in South Africa. We are changing how people in our city and the country see the game,” said Ntunja. As the Tigers prepare for the Elite 16, which tips off December, they will have to double their efforts.

“The team has been working hard to get ready for the Elite 16, because we do have reasonable expectations of ourselves. We will to take on each challenge as it comes. The team is in a good space, and we are not taking anything for granted. We will be back at the beach training and doing our skill sets on the court. We want to improve on our team chemistry and bonding as a unit.”

Going into the Elite 16, one of the areas where the Tigers need to be a cohesive unit is defence and players need to maintain their on court-discipline. The preliminary qualifiers saw key players, Chris Gabriels and Billy Preston ejected, while team captain Pieter Prinsloo fouled-out.

Ntunja says as a coaching staff, they have communicated with the players about tightening up at the defensive end and learning how to manage themselves in tense situations.

“On the subject of discipline, we have been teaching the players self-mastery. Some of the guys may have been overwhelmed by the stage or even the intensity of African basketball. Those issues need to be addressed and players must understand the task at hand,” said the former Cape Peninsula University of Technology Alumni. “Our defence. We speak about it daily. The rebounding, we must not allow the opposition to get those second-chance looks. That will win us games. We need everybody to be on board at the defensive end.”

In terms of the Tigers play, Ntunja was impressed with the performances of seasoned campaigners Ben Uzoh, Pieter Prinsloo, Evans Ganapamo, and Billy Preston who stepped up for the team in the preliminary leg of the qualifiers. Worth noting as well, was their ability to knock down shots.

“I liked our shooting. It was decent. I must compliment our players ability to step up. Our captain Pieter had a great final game against Beira. Against Matero, Ben and Evans delivered for us, and Billy stepped up,” said Ntunja. “We have always asked the guys to take the lead on the court. As their coaches, we have given them all the information. It’s up to them to apply it.”

**Cape Town Tigers players celebrate winning the National Club Championships**

The Tigers have made known their lofty ambitions to qualify for the BAL and their desire to be crowned champions of the prestigious tournament. To make their BAL dream a reality, they will have to contend with competition that harbours similar desires in the Elite 16.

“We will go back to the drawing board to correct some of the issues and improve on our strengths and we want to focus on the areas that allow us to do more than just participate in the tournament. We are going to the tournament to compete to be champions,” said Ntunja. “If you look at our record, we are unbeaten. Since the Tigers project began, we have not lost a game. So it tells you how much this means to us and how badly we want it. It’s been a good experience, and we will let our hard work speak for us.”

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Sithole feels Tigers have the right tools for BAL mission

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Sithole has exceeded his expectations on the court

THE age of 26 is the middle of an athlete’s prime years. It’s where they develop a level of maturity in their craft and begin their pursuit for greatness or greener pastures.

Well, this is not the case for South African basketball player Thabo Sithole. The KwaZulu-Natal-born point guard is content with what he has achieved on the court at his young age. He has represented South Africa at the 2017 AfroBasket, co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia and donned the colours of Lithuanian club, Zalgiris Kaunus. In South Africa, Sithole had stints with KZN Basketball National League (BNL) franchises Marlins and the now-defunct Duzi Royals.

“For myself, I have exceeded my expectations in basketball. I did not start as a basketball player. I participated in athletics and played provincial rugby in primary school,” said the former Durban High School pupil. “When I became serious about basketball from grade eight, I never thought I would end up in Europe or represent the country in AfroBasket.”

The journey seems to be getting better for Sithole. He recently joined Mother City club Cape Town Tigers, who are on mission to qualify for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament. Before heading to the Western Cape, Sithole was a part of Jozi Nuggets’ losing effort to qualify for the same tournament at the National Club Championships final in September. Now he sees being part of the Tigers as a way of helping South African basketball.

“I joined Nuggets for two or three months. I came through on the weekends to play matches up here (Gauteng) and go back. After the finals, I felt that I should join the Tigers because you need your best eight South African players and the foreign players to represent the country,” said Sithole. “So, I am for South Africa first. It does not matter if I am wearing the colours of the Cape Town Tigers or Jozi Nuggets, I play basketball for the country.”

“I’m not focusing on the NBA or going back to Europe. I want the best for South Africa. It would be better to help develop basketball here rather than to go overseas, while things here are going nowhere.”

After his overseas sojourn, Sithole realised he needed to explore all avenues to secure his future. He took a break from basketball to focus on his studies.

“When I came back from Lithuania, I realised I do not want to bounce around from country to country, which is the case with players overseas. Sometimes you can get injured. For example, if you hurt your knee, you could be out for a year or two. I did not want that for my life,” said Sithole, who is pursuing his masters in development studies at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). “So when I got back, I told myself, let me look for ways to better myself, so I paused a bit on basketball. It’s difficult to strike that balance, but we are more than just athletes.”

Having played in the BAL qualifiers in 2019 for Jozi Nuggets, Sithole highlighted why the Gauteng side could not progress in their first attempt and why Tigers have a better chance.

“It was tough playing in 2019 because there were some issues. The BNL did not want to release players to help Nuggets. So we only had a few players who could play at that level,” said the UKZN player. “This time around, the team (Tigers) is much stronger. Good players have joined this club. It’s going to be tough, but I think we will manage.

“In this team, there are guys who have played in the NBA. Guys like myself who played for top clubs in Europe and at the AfroBasket. I know the kinds of challenges that might come. There will not be any nerves or panic, because I have experienced such situations before.”

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Sithole is part of a basketball club trying to rock the landscape of South African basketball on the court. Unfortunately, the Tigers’ arrival coincides with a long-time unstable political basketball climate off the court. This is a situation Sithole is both familiar with and has been outspoken about.

“There are people who have been running basketball at national and BNL level. They have been running basketball for a long time. Their treatment of players has not been the best, and there have been many issues,” said Sithole. “I remember coming back from national team duty, they (Basketball South Africa management) took our kits, and the reason given was, ‘there are no funds’, but we found out that the Lotto had given BSA money. Other issues include things not being done on time and if you get injured, it is not clear that there is insurance to cover players.

“It’s unfortunate that those individuals are still in charge. So, when I tweeted to the minister to do something, I was saying somebody from above needs to act. In terms action being taken, things like making sure forensic audits are done and basic good governance would go a long way to remedy the situation. If that does not happen basketball will continue to be in a dark place. ”

Are the Tigers that catalyst for change in South African basketball? Sithole pointed out that South African-owned teams have struggled to attract investment, which has not been an issue for American-backed Tigers. If the newly formed club progress beyond the BAL qualifiers, Sithole hopes both business and government will look at basketball differently.

“What the Tigers are trying to do is a good thing but other clubs are struggling. Tigers are an American-owned team who did not get funding from local banks or mobile telecommunications companies. Maybe this team can help the private sector and government see things differently by qualifying for the BAL,” concluded Sithole.

BAL QUALIFIERS GROUP F

VENUE: UJ SOWETO CAMPUS

FIXTURES:

DAY 1: Thursday

12pm Ferroviario da Beira (MOZ) vs Matero Magic (ZAM)

3pm: Cape Town Tigers (RSA) vs Roche-Bois Warriors (MRI)

DAY 2: Friday

12pm: Roche-Bois Warriors vs Ferroviario da Beira

3pm: Matero Magic vs Cape Town Tigers

Day 3: Saturday

12pm: Matero Magic vs Roche-Bois Warriors

3pm: Cape Town Tigers vs Ferroviario da Beira

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Tigers ready to earn their stripes in BAL qualifiers

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BAL a chance for players to become super stars

FOR Cape Town Tigers big man Pieter Prinsloo, South Africa is where his heart has always been. His allegiance and patriotism run deep, skin deep.

Embellished on the Tigers captain’s right arm are tattoos of the national flag and the big five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo), elements that celebrate his South African roots.

Prinsloo always held the ambition of representing South Africa through the Proteas cricket team, but his life took a different turn when he moved to the United States, where he picked up basketball. Despite living most of his life in the US and playing professionally in different parts of the world, Prinsloo never forgot the country of his birth.

“As a kid growing up here, I always thought I would play for the SA national cricket team. It did not work out that way because I left for the States. For me, this (South Africa) is my home. It’s where I am from, and I will never forget that,” said 29-year old Prinsloo. “Soon as I got out of the house and was allowed to do my own thing, the first thing I did was to get a tattoo of the South African flag.

“For me, that’s my heritage. I also have tattoos of the big five. The tattoos on my right arm are a celebration of my heritage. So wherever I am in the world, and people take note of the tattoos, I let them know this is my representation of home.”

Prinsloo knows all about representing South Africa at the highest level. He has donned the green and gold vest at the 2017 AfroBasket co-hosted by Senegal and Tunisia. Now he will have another opportunity to represent his country, but this time in the colours of the Tigers, who beat Jozi Nuggets 76-70 in September to become the new National Men’s club champions.

The Cape-based club will take on four Southern African teams in the Zone VI Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers from 19- 24 October in Johannesburg at the University of Johannesburg Campus in Soweto.

Pretoria-West born Prinsloo believes hosting the games and hopefully qualifying for the BAL presents an opportunity for Tigers to help raise basketball’s profile in the country and for players to make a name for themselves.

For us, it’s great! It’s an opportunity for guys to become superstars. Some of the guys realise that. When they walk in the street, they will be recognisable. It also means long-term security. It means guys can change their lives and futures,” said Prinsloo, who experienced his bit of the limelight. “I have experienced that playing in countries overseas, where somebody would say ‘hey Prinsloo can I get a picture.’ So, for me, it’s normal to be on a poster because something is going here or there.”

“For South Africa… it’s probably the richest and most talked about country in Africa, but in sport, we ain’t doing sh*t. Our rugby is up and down. Cricket has its scandals. Soccer has not been relevant in, who knows for how long? So we know by what we are doing, we can become a big-time face in this country.”

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Unfortunately for Tigers, they will not host the BAL qualifiers in their home city, and according to Prinsloo this is a missed opportunity for the club and its fans. He also felt the tournament organisers made it impossible for the Tigers to host the event.

“We would have loved to have the games here. We are the SA champs, and we are from Cape Town, but the organisers made it a complicated process in trying to host it here. They had a lot of requirements that we felt were excessive, but they have their rules, so we left it at that,” said Prinsloo. “We would have preferred to have it in Cape Town. Our fanbase is here. It also could have helped us with our branding, marketing of the game, and we could grow our support even more.

“We do have a fanbase in Johannesburg because of the growth of the game, and people see the work we have done.”

The issue of where games should held, has not been a distraction for the Tigers players, as they have continued preparing for the BAL qualifying tournament. They have also added some quality players to help them reach their objective. The only stumbling block could be the lack of meaningful competition since being crowned national champions.

“Training wise, things have been going good. We have incorporated a couple more pieces. Jared (Harrington) is included again after missing out on the championships because of paperwork. We have also filled our African slot with Evans (Ganapamo) and Ben Uzoh, who played with us at the championships. Billy Preston from the States has also joined the team,” said Prinsloo, a former Marist Red Foxes player.

“We have not had many practice games, but in training, things are coming together. The talents we have brought in are starting to click with the rest of the team. There is good chemistry. Guys are starting to understand each other.

“It’s been hard to find competitive scrimmages. We get better runs going five-on-five in the team at training because of the size and skill. It’s been hard to find a similar kind of talent that we will face in Joburg.”

Third Picture — **Cape Tigers captain Pieter Prinsloo receives the medals from BSA secretary general Victor Bergman.**

The talent that lies in wait for the Tigers comes in the form of Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique), Matero Magic (Zambia), Mercenaries (Zimbabwe) and Roche Bois Warriors (Mauritius).

Prinsloo is familiar with Beira, having had a stint with the club. He also provided some insight into what the Mercenaries and Matero will bring to the table.

“Beira is a team that likes to press. They play at a fast tempo. So teams that press don’t handle it very well because they don’t want that pressure. I know some of the guys from Zim. They might have some guys who play here and there in SA. The Zambians play with a quicker small team,” said the former Universidad de Concepcion player.

“I don’t see it causing complications for us. We have a balanced team; we can go big or small at any time. There is size and skill in every position. A guy like me can play small forward, power forward and centre. We have a team that can go quicker or slower. We don’t want to play the opposition’s game. We want to play our game.”

While the qualifying process is still a long one, Prinsloo who has won championships in El Salvador and Nigeria feels that winning the BAL would add another feather on the cap.

“For me, on top of what I have accomplished in my career… I have played in champions league in South America and competed against some the best players in the world. So, winning BAL would add another championship to my resume. To bring that trophy back home and to Cape Town, that would be crazy. It would be an honour,” concluded Prinsloo.

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Koranga and the Lionesses will have a competitive edge

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Award winning season for Koranga

FELMAS Koranga does not mince her words when she says basketball was not her preferred choice of sport. To her, participating in basketball and other sporting codes were a form of escape and having fun.

“I tried different sports to figure where I fit in best. Note, this was for FUN! There was no intention from my side on building my future through sport,” said the 25-year-old. “I was the type of person who did not want to tire because of physical activity. I would cry a lot when instructed to put up shots and get fit.

“No. I did not want any of that. It was something to look forward to after class. Something refreshing.”

The influence of her older brother Ariel Okall Koranga, who plays for the Kenya Morans, also proved to be the turning point for Felmas.

“I was introduced to basketball by my older brother Ariel. Well, he insisted that I take it up and I am here because of that,” said the power forward.

There’s a twist of irony in Koranga’s journey, as what turned out to be a leisure activity has seen her achieve excellence for her country and university team.

Koranga, the first Kenyan to play in the NCAA tournament has had a stellar season for Troy University in Alabama. Her performance for Troy was so good she won the Sun Belt Newcomer of the year and was named the All-Sun Belt Second team. She was part of the Trojans team that made the NCAA tournament, although they fell to Texas A&M in the first round.

Initially, Koranga struggled to adjust in her new environment but eventually knuckled down and was able to settle.

“I have to say it was not easy at first. Having to cope and gel in the system was not easy. It took me some time. I think in late January till March, I began to settle and be comfortable with the style of play,” said the former Tyler Junior College player.

Despite her achievements, Koranga was not overly excited about her success. To her, the awards are a sign that the behind the scenes work on her game have paid off and helped contribute to the team.

I know it’s a big platform and stuff, but I don’t get carried away with things like that. It’s just a title and a name. To me it’s just like any other game,” said Koranga, who took a similar tone on her individual achievements. “When you put in work it’s sometimes possible to predict that something big is going to happen. Also, the work I put in was not for individual accolades but for the success of the team.”

She also carried her form to Kenya’s Lionesses for the FIBA Zone V AfroBasket qualifiers. In the process, she also continued a proud family legacy of representing the East African nation in international competitions.

Her father, Elijah Koranga, who played for Kenya’s Harambee Stars in the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations, set the benchmark. Ariel matched the feat as he recently helped the Morans end a 27-year absence from international basketball by qualifying for this year’s men’s AfroBasket in Rwanda (24 August to 5 September).

Now, Felmas has written herself into Kenya’s sporting lore as she helped lead the Lionesses to qualify for the women’s competition (AfroBasket) in Cameroon (17-26 September).

Nakuru-born Felmas explains that the battle for bragging rights within the family is friendly. She points that it used to be her father who held the mantle for a long time. Now Ariel and herself are perched next to the Koranga patriarch in terms of sporting success.

“It is a little competition that we have going on. Dad used to say he is the only one who has competed on a higher platform. Ariel also used to say: ‘dad is not the only person that can speak in the house’. But now I’m the main person,” quipped Koranga.

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Koranga and the Lionesses made hard work of their qualifying route to Cameroon. Round robin losses to hosts Rwanda (77-44) and Egypt (107-106) and the one win over South Sudan (66-48) sandwiched in between last month saw the Kenyans having to dig deep.

What they found going into the semi-final and final was self-belief. So galvanised were the Lionesses, they swept aside Rwanda (79-52) and Egypt (99-83) to stamp their ticket to the women’s showpiece tournament.

“We did not expect it, but we had a measure of hope. Also, we wanted to prove a point. Some people did not believe in us,” said Koranga, who was named the power forward of the qualifying tournament.

Kenya will expect more award-winning performances from Koranga in the 12-team tournament. The Lionesses are Group A with the hosts Cameroon and Cape Verde.

Third Pic — **Felmas Koranga poses with her individual trophy.**

Koranga acknowledges that competing in the tournament will present a different kind of challenge for the Lionesses.

“It’s going to be tough for all the teams. It’s a different level of competition. We have to practice like we are going to face people playing in the WNBA. That’s the attitude everybody should have. We are not overconfident, but we are coming there to compete,” said Koranga, who was non-committal about how far the team would go.

“Somebody asked me the same question. Honestly, I never have an answer to such a question. All I will say is we will compete. Hopefully, we will get somewhere.”

Looking at Kenya’s record at this competition, what stands out is that the Lionesses finished fifth in 1986, second in 1993 and fourth in 1997. Since then, there was nothing to write home about in the last three AfroBaskets they participated in.

While they are far from the upward ascent of those early years, Koranga intimated that the ball is rolling in trying to get the team back on track. She says there have been challenges in the rebuilding process.

“You won’t believe this, but before we went to Rwanda, we had been together for only ten days. You could tell from our first game that the chemistry was not there,” said Koranga. “There is an ongoing process of rebuilding the team. I feel we have talent. The right things need to be put in place so that the team well prepared.”

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Barros hopes AfroBasket can unlock new doors

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Cape Verde to put on a show for their fans

PLAYING on the big stage in sport can open new doors for competing athletes. Cape Verde point guard Alexia Barros harbours the hope that a good performance at the women’s AfroBasket will be the key to unlocking new opportunities for herself.

The 26-year-old hopes playing the lights out in the tournament which Cameroon will host (from 17-26 September) will help her achieve her dream of playing in the WNBA.

Another added advantage for the United States-born Barros is that she recently joined the New England Trailblazers, a team that competes in the Women’s American Basketball Association (WABA). Both situations give the 5ft8 guard an advantage in her quest to fulfil her ambition of playing in the elite women’s league.

The floor general believes she is within touching distance of achieving her goal and is hopeful that the work she has put in will yield a positive outcome.

“My dream is to play in the WNBA. I feel I am close to getting to my dream. I have to keep working hard. Work on the little things that will help my game progress,” said the former Community College of Rhode Island player.

She also relishes playing for club and country. “It’s fulfilling to play for both teams. I can’t wait to see what playing for them will do for my basketball career. The doors it can open and the new people I am going to meet. I am excited at the prospect of seeing new opportunities come alive. It feels good. I feel like something is coming.”

With the groundwork laid to work towards her aspirations, the AfroBasket tournament looms for Barros and Cape Verde.

A look-back to their route to qualifying for the women’s tournament, a stand-out feature is that the islanders had to overcome difficult odds against Guinea, Conakry in a two-legged Fiba Africa Zone 2 qualifier in June.

Both legs took place in Conakry at the Stade 28 Septembre indoor venue, in front of a raucous and passionate home crowd. Cape Verde fought courageously but lost a close first leg by a single digit (65-64). A day later, Barros and her teammates took the battle to Guinea and valiantly triumphed by a 9-point margin (68-59) to qualify for the continental showpiece.

Reflecting on the qualifiers, Barros says playing as a unit against their much taller opponents led to Cape Verde securing their ticket to Cameroon.

“That experience was marvellous, especially playing there. Guinea was a tough team and a lot bigger than us, but we managed to hold our own. We did not have our fans. We had to rely on each other and stay together. I am proud of my teammates and what we achieved,” said Barros. “Their fans were a little wild. It was a small gym, and when they scored, you heard it. There was a lot of banging and loud horns. From an objective perspective, it was a beautiful atmosphere.

“We wanted to win and show the world that we are here. What we now need is support, and we also need to keep working hard, especially for this next tournament.”

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On the subject of support, Barros, who will participate in her second AfroBasket, hopes the national federation can equally support the women’s team as they do the men. Barros believes she and her teammates are keeping their end by preparing themselves for the upcoming tournament.

“We have some players in the States and most of our players in Cape Verde, and we need to come together to build the team chemistry,” said Barros. “We work our butts off, everyone from the coach, assistants, even the people in the federation help us a lot, but it’s little things that we need.

The same treatment and profile that the boys get should also be accorded to us as well. It’s starting to change a little bit, but it can be better.”

Lexi Barros says playing for Cape Verde has helped her personal growth.

On Cape Verde’s chances at the 12-team tournament, Barros spoke with confidence that they can outduel any opponent. She also emphasised the need for teamwork if they are to make an impression in Cameroon.

“We need to play together. I feel we can beat any team. We have a lot of good shooters. We are a guard-heavy team and rely a lot on our speed for fastbreaks. There is a lot of experience in our group and some new players as well,” said Barros. “We want to do big things this year. We want to put on a show for our fans.”

Barros also appreciates donning the Cape Verde vest, what it has done to advance her basketball career, and is using her platform as an international player to be an example for the younger generation.

“I want to go far with this team. I want to play for as many years as possible. Playing for Cape Verde has been the most amazing thing in my life,” said Barros. “The fans there really support us, and the kids look up to us.

“That’s the one thing I like the most, having the chance to be a role model here at home in the US and in Cape Verde.”

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Can Gabriel and the Tigers shake up SA basketball?

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Gabriel unearths hidden talent

CHRISTOPHER Gabriel has come full circle in his basketball career. The journey for the 32-year-old began in his home city, Cape Town, where he picked up the game that would change his life.

Gabriel was still a rough diamond but was fortunate to be blessed with the right attributes, which opened a world of opportunity for him. The United States was where he would hone his playing skills, from high school right until college.

When he joined the professional ranks, the 6ft10 big man traversed different parts of the world and countries in the continents of Europe, South America, Asia were places he would call home.

Now his journey has brought him back home where it all began. Gabriel reflected on his journey, which saw him depart South Africa as a teenager to pursue his dream.

“I played with the Montana Vikings here in Cape Town under coach John Goliath and at the same time I was scouted by the Seed Academy, now based in Senegal,” said Gabriel, who left South Africa in 2004 for The Patterson School in North Carolina on a scholarship.

**Christopher Gabriel wants to win with the Tigers. Pictures: The Big Tip Off**

The experience of those early years in America was a shock to the system for Gabriel. From that point on he was far from being polished as a player. He was also frank in his self-assessment of where he was and where he needed to be.

“I had my fifteenth birthday in the States. I told myself I am going to make a difference, but I got a reality check,” said Gabriel. “When I got there, I was the worst player at the school. I had to work harder than everybody else. To get up to speed, I watched a lot of games to understand how the game was played there.”

While he worked on improving himself as a player, Gabriel also had to navigate the cultural nuances of America, which was an easier process for him.

There is the cultural aspect as well. For guys who came through grassroot programs, the only way to catch up on the culture of America or anywhere in the world was to throw yourself in it,” explained Gabriel. “Luckily, I fit in well because of the things I was into, like sneakers. Also, the fact I was from an English speaking country was an advantage.

“From a basketball perspective, I knew I was not athletic. I knew I had to be more technical, like having a better jump shot and knowing how to dribble using my left and right hand.”

During his college career, Gabriel became comfortable in his skin as a player. He understood his role on the court, and the work he put in also came with its rewards. He also got to share the court with players who are household names in the NBA today.

“College was a huge learning period. Once you find yourself and you accept the type of player you are, what your skill level and athleticism level is, then you can work on other things,” said the former New Mexico State and University of San Diego player.

He also reflected on his time in college and some of the highlights. “It’s hard to sum it up. Being from South Africa and All American were accomplishments. I played in an AAU team with Brandon Jennings, James Harden and Kevin Love,” said Gabriel.

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After a fruitful college experience, Gabriel continued his career overseas, where he played in Slovenia, Georgia, Uruguay, Thailand, Spain and Iran.

The South African international player had some career highlights, especially in Iran. He lit up the stats board while playing for Shahdari Qazvin in the Persian state.

“In Iran, where I was the only import in the team, there was a game where I scored 49 points. I was averaging double digits in points and rebounds. It was a good year for me,” said Gabriel, who had to leave Iran last year because of both political uncertainties and Covid-19.

He returned home, and has since adjusted well in Cape Town, including a resumption of his basketball career with the American funded Cape Town Tigers.

Gabriel, who is co-captain of the team, has so far been ecstatic to play for the Tigers and has enjoyed the comforts of being at home.

“Man, it’s been amazing, getting the opportunity to play professionally in your hometown. There is a different level of motivation I can tap into because I am at home. I am comfortable,” said Gabriel. “I love being home. After every season overseas, I came home. In a foreign country, you feel like you are not from there. No matter how long you have lived or played there.”

Gabriel believes the introduction of the Tigers on the South African basketball scene will bring professionalism and a change to the game.

“As a team, we want to be champions, no matter where we play. CTBL or BAL, we want to be champions. We also want to change the culture of basketball. It’s not where it needs to be,” said Gabriel. “The people in the front offices need to take the game seriously than we are. We are playing the game. Players should not be arguing about salaries. That is something that should be taken care of by your agent and front office.

“Your job is to be a basketball player. So our job from Raphael, myself and coach Relton and everybody involved in the team is to change the culture of the game.”

Off the court, Gabriel has also unearthed a hidden talent. He has dabbled into the acting scene, and it could be something he looks into after his playing days.

“Yeah, it’s something I have just started. I did a commercial for Samsung. I am on a TV show called Raised by Wolves on HBO. I’m just a big guy. I play Billy, an android robot that fights in a gladiator-style theme. It’s been epic,” concluded Gabriel.

Since returning to South Africa, Gabriel’s star seems to be on the ascendancy. It seems we can expect to experience the best of him both on and off the court.

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Tigers plan on being the face of basketball in Africa

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Getting the balance right is key for the Tigers

WHO are the Cape Town Tigers? It was a big question in South African basketball circles recently. The team in question gave a glimpse of who they are, a fortnight ago in a three-day friendly exhibition in Johannesburg.

With the bevvy of talent at their disposal, the Tigers, formed in 2019, left the city of gold unbeaten and begging the question: is this super team going to shake up the basketball landscape in the country?

The answer is yes and if the words of Raphael Edwards are anything to go by. The Tigers plan on becoming the face of basketball on the continent.

I told the president of the BAL (Amadou Gallo Fall) this. We plan on being the face of the Basketball Africa League and the gold standard on how to be a professional team,” said Edwards, who is part of the Tigers ownership. That’s through philanthropy, marketing of ourselves and how we play on the court.”

To achieve the goal of being a big brand and a dominant force on the continent, Tigers have recruited notable players who played for the South African national team at the Afrobasket.

Christopher Gabriel, who played college basketball for the University of San Diego and represented South Africa at three continental tournaments (2009, 2011 and 2017), is part of the on-court leadership of the Tigers.

Cape Town born Gabriel comes with vast experience having played in countries like Slovenia, Denmark, Uruguay, Spain, Georgia and Iran.

Gabriel, a centre, will co-captain the team with a player who comes with his own wealth of experience in Pieter Prinsloo. The Pretoria-West born power forward was also part of the South African team that played in the 2017 Afrobasket.

He also cut his teeth in the American college system, where he suited up for Marist University.

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Enticing Gabriel and Prinsloo to come and play in the country of their birth was not hard for Edwards. He pitched the idea that their collective experience would add value to the team and its ambitions.

“Pieter Prinsloo and Chris Gabriel, who are our captains. I told them, ‘you guys put in the work’, so why don’t you want to reap the benefits now? You have put your country on the map. With the BAL now here on the continent, don’t you want to be a part of that?” explained the 45-year-old New Yorker. “You deserve to be part of that, and you deserve to lead the way.”

The Tigers’ roster also has three other prominent players who played on the BNLSA scene in centre Somusa Mthembu , forward Miguel Ferrao and guard Lebogang Mofokeng.

Mthembu is a three-time BNLSA champion with the Tshwane Suns, while Ferrao is also a four-time league champion with Egoli Magic. Former Soweto Panthers player Mofokeng was part of the Egoli team’s championship run last year.

Edwards’ plan is to ensure that the players coming in develop on and off the court. Having experienced what it was like overseas, he feels there was a missing component to his development. The focus was more on him as a player and less on his individual growth.

“Talking to the guys, my selling point was that I would be present. I want to invest in them becoming better players, better men and better leaders,” said Edwards, who played for East Carolina University. “When I played for ten years overseas, and nobody cared about those other aspects when I was playing. All that mattered was me scoring the basketball.

“I want them to understand that I am going to contribute to them being better all around.”

To get the team to be a cohesive unit, the Tigers have employed Relton Booysen and Vincent Ntunja, a legend in South Africa and Cape Town basketball, as coaches of the team.

Booysen and Ntunja are from Cape Town, which is a plus for Tigers. The two know the lay of the land and have good working chemistry, which bodes well for the team.

“The two coaches that we hired are connected to the community of Cape Town. They bleed for Cape Town,” said Edwards. “They are like fire and ice. Vince is as cool as a fan, and Relton is the fire.

“I believe in balance. Everything in life is about balance. Those two are like yin and yang. I told somebody in an interview a couple of days ago: ‘every time they talk about the city and about giving back, it’s intense and filled with passion.’ I believe my partners, the team and I have given them the platform to do that, with no restraints or any holds barred.”

The Tigers will have to earn their stripes the hard way. Their journey to being the best on the continent will not be immediate. They have to navigate their way through the Cape Town Basketball League’s second division.

Right now, we are in the second division. As far as preparation goes, we have to work hard, and pay attention to detail. Every single day we have to get better,” said Edwards. We are going to make sure that we handle all our compliance aspects well.”

“We plan on being here and being the best team in Africa.”

The Mother City is the appropriate birthplace for the ambitious Tigers, who must scratch and claw their way up the ranks. The question they have to answer is; can make South Africa and the rest of the continent feel their roar? Only time will tell.

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Denyssen reminisces about BAL experience

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Denyssen: It was once in a lifetime experience

QUINTIN Denyssen has been a trailblazer in South African basketball. Having made his name as a player, he made the cross over to being a commentator. And just like the game gave a lot to him as a player, it recently opened a new door for him in his current career.

Denyssen, popular for his commentary in South Africa’s Basketball National League on broadcast SuperSport, got the opportunity of a lifetime. He joined American sports broadcast giant ESPN for a similar role at the recently concluded Basketball Africa League tournament.

The former South African national team player explained that the NBA had followed him and were impressed with his presentation skills, which earned him the trip to Kigali, Rwanda.

“The opportunity came directly from the NBA. They had obviously tracked the work I do on radio and TV,” said Denyssen. “They said there was a selection criterion, in which they observed a lot of individuals. We were assessed based on what we say, how they say it and how we pose. So based on that, I got the call.

“It was a pleasant surprise. It’s surreal to get an offer like that. I grasped it with both hands. I mean, who would not want to be a commentator for an elite showcase of basketball on the African continent?”

After absorbing the news, the 40-year-old, who has been in the broadcast business for eight years, knew he had to prove himself on the big stage.

First of all, to get the call… you have to pinch yourself. Secondly, now you have to do the work. Everything was as I expected it to be. From operations to the technical officials and the players, everybody will probably sing from the same hymn sheet about what the tournament experience felt like,” said Denyssen.

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This being the first BAL tournament, there is sometimes nervousness that creeps in. Even for commentators. For Denyssen, there were not any as he was ready from the moment. His first rodeo, was the group stage game between tournament winners Zamalek of Egypt and Mozambique’s Ferroviario de Maputo.

“Derrick Rose once used these words in an interview: ‘Proper preparation prevents poor performance’,” said Denyssen. “So all the prepping and the hard work I put in got me ready for this moment. Experience also plays a part. I have been in broadcasting for a long time, so my confidence levels were where they needed to be.

“I hope the people who tuned in appreciated the work we put in and that we delivered what was seen on tv the right way.”

On the playing front, two teams impressed Denyssen. He enjoyed commentating on games involving Zamalek and Ferroviario. The latter team hold a special place in his heart, as he featured for the Mozambican club during his playing days. While the Egyptians captured his imagination because of their playing personnel.

“I think all the Zamalek games I commentated, I enjoyed. As you know, they have some nice pieces. I cannot forget the Ferro games. I mean, come on, I played there,” said the former Wits University player. “Following those two teams was a lot of fun.”

Denyssen feels he has also been a part of a history-making process.

“From an objective standpoint, all of the games were awesome,” said Denyssen. “It was a once in a lifetime experience. My voice is a part of history. I’m grateful. I got a lot of good feedback from people that were watching.

“Commentating is like refereeing. If you do a good job, nobody is going to say anything. So while unexcpected, I welcome the compliments.”

Denyssen, shared his impressions of the overall play at the tournament. In his opinion, only a few teams came ready to compete. Others were trying to figure it out at the tournament. Also, a number players that were signed by clubs, were either not compatible or did not get enough preparation time with their teams.

“My takeaway from the tournament is that you cannot buy success. Some of the players contracted had not been with their teams long enough,” said Denyssen. The teams that did the best in the tournament were the ones that played together long enough, battle-tested teams.

“They chose their players according to their system. The teams I’m talking about are Zamalek, Petro and Monastir. They were a cut above the rest. I’m sure you watched their games. They have a core that has played together for a long time, and it paid dividends in the end.”

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Zamalek’s BAL win a big boost for Egyptian basketball

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Zamalek on top of the world

THE inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament was a resounding success. After two weeks of pulsating action, Egyptian giants Zamalek were crowned champions.

Following the 76-63 win on Sunday over their fellow North Africans, US Monastir of Tunisia, Zamalek’s Spanish coach Agustin Julbe Bosch said while the victory was for the club and its fans, he hopes it will boost the image of the game in Egypt.

“I think winning the first edition of the BAL is awesome for Zamalek and its fans. For Egyptian basketball, I hope this is a boost for the league. For the kids playing in youth programs and those that followed Zamalek’s progress, I hope we represented a balance of what winning basketball is,” said Bosch at the post-game conference on Sunday.

Although Zamalek finished unbeaten in the tournament, they did not enjoy the favourites status that Monastir enjoyed. Bosch believes both the quarter and semi-final games showed that they had learnt how to manage themselves in high-pressure situations.

“The last two games showed us how to chew the games. We don’t focus too much on the errors we make during the games. We also have to find the right moment to strike,” said Bosch. “I think we consistently got better with each game.

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Zamalek’s Puerto Rican-born point guard and winner of the tournament’s Hakeem Olajuwon Most Valuable Player trophy, Walter Hodge, acknowledged that they were not the quickest out of the starting blocks. As the game progressed, the team were able to figure things out. Hodge believes they presented a different kettle of fish for Zamalek.

“We always talk. We know we always start slow. You saw that in our last two games,” said Hodge. “We knew as the game went on, we would do the right things. I don’t think Monastir have faced a team like ours in the tournament. A team that never gives up and is able to put up a fight.

“They are a great team, but they have never faced a team like us. I think that was hard for them.”

Monastir coach Mounir Ben Slimane believes his team’s capitulation happened in the third quarter. The Tunisians lost their rhythm at that point and could not find their way back into the game.

“Before the game started, I don’t think the pressure was there. The breaking point was in the mid-third quarter when we could not score. That’s when we started feeling the pressure. Before the game started, there was no pressure. There was mutual respect for the opposition. We knew Zamalek was going to be a tough opponent. What we did not expect was low scoring averages,” said Ben Slimane.

For a year, Zamalek will carry the bragging rights as kings of African basketball. They quietly went about their business and rose to the occasion when the situation called for them to step up.

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Can Gasana and the Patriots slay the Monastir beast?

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THE veteran experience in the Patriots Basketball Club played a significant role in carrying the club to the semi-final stage of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament in Kigali, Rwanda.

Led by their veteran guards, Kenny Gasana and Aristide Mugabe, the Patriots survived a rollercoaster quarter-final against Ferroviario de Maputo on Thursday night.

Reflecting on the game against the Mozambicans, Gasana paid homage to team captain, Mugabe. American-born Gasana was the game’s MVP, scoring 23 points and notching five rebounds, Mugabe scored 18 points. Mugabe chipped in with four clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter. The first one helped close in on the Ferroviario (60-61), and the other three helped the Patriots pull away.

“Aristide was huge for us. He hit some big shots. You talked about his experience. He has been there before. He has played a lot of big games on the local and international stage. So did not shy away from the moment. He was ready for it,” said Gasana.

The former Boise State player did have a few nervous moments in the final minutes from the free-throw line.

“I was a little mad at myself for missing the free throw. Before that, I shot the free throw pretty well throughout the game. I maybe was just a little rusty,” said Gasana. “I knew with the situation they did not have any time-outs. So, I was able to make a free throw. It put a little pressure on them to make a three-pointer to try and win the game.”

The game ended 73-71 in favour of the Patriots. The intensity of the encounter must have extracted a heavy toll. While it may be the case, Gasana and his teammates will have to dig deep into their energy reserves as a familiar foe lies in wait.

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US Monastir is as close to a perfect team comes, in this tournament. From the group stages right through to the quarter-finals, the Tunisians have taken no prisoners.

The Patriots will know as they were no match against the North African club in the group stages. In this semi-final battle the Rwanda club will know what to expect. The 36-year-old Gasana said his team has to concentrate against the well-oiled Monastir machine.

“We need to be focused. Monastir is a veteran team. Everyone has experience. They are not going to beat themselves. We can’t rely on them to make mistakes as well. We have to execute our game plan to the best of our abilities,” said the Rwanda international.

The Patriots, like most teams going into this tournament, had very little match practice and trying to beat a Monastir team that has had a basketball season is a tall task. Gasana pointed that the circumstances under COVID-19 meant that caution needed to be applied.

“It’s a different time. The situation has been difficult. We are dealing with COVID. Very few teams have had a season in their respective countries. Here in Rwanda, we have not had a season since October/November,” said San Antonio-born Gasana. “So the guys have been training. It would have helped if we had some games to help us compete. That’s the situation for eight or nine teams that competed here. We can’t make any excuses now. We have to be ready.”

The Patriots must overcome the hurdle of Monastir. They are close to the final and with the trophy in sight this should raise their hunger levels.

“Our focus when we came into the tournament was to win every game we played. We take it one game at a time. From the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony, we want to play,” said Gasana. “We did a huge thing by making it to the top four. But that’s not the end goal. We don’t want to make it only into the top four. We want to compete and raise that trophy.”

If they have any chance of raising the inaugural BAL trophy, the Patriots will have to out-fox a team highly touted. With a passionate home crowd behind them and the spotlight firmly fixed on them, it will be hard for Patriots to shy away from this moment.

Can Gasana and the Patriots slay the Monastir beast? Read More »

Author name: Manyehlisa Lehohla

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Gabriel unearths hidden talent

Getting the balance right is key for the Tigers

Denyssen: It was once in a lifetime experience

Zamalek on top of the world