THE Cape Town Tigers are a young club on the African basketball scene. They head to Season 4 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) as hosts of the Kalahari Conference, where they hope to improve on their past performances. The Big Tip Off previews the South African team ahead of the BAL.
Team: Cape Town Tigers
Country: South Africa
History: The Tigers are one of South Africa’s youngest clubs. Founded in 2019, the team has garnered much attention for its success in the past four years. They will be making their third appearance in the BAL.
The Tigers have won two South African National titles, one Basketball National League (BNL) title and two Road to BAL Division East Championships.
The South African side has had its fair share of stars adorn their roster, with most recently having former OKC Thunder player Josh Hall and Zaire Wade, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Dwayne Wade, suited up for them in Season 3 of the BAL.
But the Tigers have not managed to get past the quarter-finals in their two BAL appearances. Can the third attempt be the charm for them?
The Tigers secured their spot in Season 4 of the BAL through Road to BAL. The South African Champions went undefeated in the tournament and defeated the Oilers in the final game.
Coach: South African coach Florsheim Ngwenya will lead the Tigers in their quest to become a title contender in their third BAL appearance. The experienced Ngwenya previously led the South African National team from 2007 to 2011 as head coach.
He has also won multiple BNL titles as the Head Coach of the Egoli Magic club, making him the most successful coach in BNL history. Ngwenya led the Tigers to two Division East Road to BAL Championships and one BNL title.
Star Player: Samkelo Cele is a standout player on the South African team. As a small forward and guard, his athleticism and high motor impact both ends of the court. He can quickly shift the game’s momentum in favour of the Tigers.
Despite coming off the bench, Cele leads the team in most statistical categories. Cele has averaged 13 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game during the Road to BAL. He was among the best defenders in Season 3 of the BAL and earned a place in the League’s All-Defensive Team.
