FRIDAY marks the beginning of the BAL the return of the Kalahari Conference to South Africa. The Big Tip Off editor Manyehlisa Lehohla looks at the match of the day featuring host club Johannesburg Giants and Tanzania’s DarCity. This intriguing battle sees a reunion between the two teams, led by successful coaches and brilliant strategists.
Joahnnesburg Giants
The Giants, as a club, are new to the BAL scene, but they have individuals familiar with the rough and tough of the six-year-old tournament. The experienced Florsheim Ngwenya led the now-defunct Cape Town Tigers to a historic run, which began at the Kalahari Conference in South Africa (in 2024) and ended at the semi-finals in Rwanda.
After successfully helping the Giants navigate the Road to BAL last year, can he work his magic again this year? There is no doubt that as Ngwenya readies the Giants for this year’s competition, a bit of 2024’s nostalgia will play in his mind.
The Giants’ journey begins with a familiar adversary – DarCity, a club Ngwenya’s charges overcame in the Road to BAL semi-final, to book their automatic spot in the BAL. Apart from his exploits with the Tigers, Ngwenya has an extensive resume, which includes coaching the South African national team at two AfroBaskets (2011 and 2009).
His record on the domestic scene also makes for good reading, having won two national club championships, first with the Tigers and last year as the Giants head coach. As a coach in the BNL, he won multiple titles with Egoli Magic (2021, 2019, 2016 and 2015) and one with the Tigers (2023).
Ngwenya’s teams play good defence and do so with effort. One player who demonstrated defensive aptitude is power forward and the BAL All-Time rebounds leader, Nkosinathi Sibanyoni, with his timely block on Youssoupha Ndoye with seconds left in a Road to BAL semi-final clash.
Looking ahead to the opening game on Friday (vs DarCity), which will be the Giants’ BAL debut, he had the following to say: “Each day with the Giants preparing them is a blessing and a privilege, it’s a club that is dear to my heart. Hard-working bunch of guys.
Having faced off against DarCity in the Road to BAL, Ngwenya felt they were a team that never gives up.
“Dar City is a good team. What I learned about them is that they will play hard and don’t quit,” said Ngwenya “It’s important to have a good start, simply because we will build confidence moving forward in the competition.”
DarCity
The Dar es Salaam-based club are the pride of Tanzania as the first club from that country to qualify for the BAL. They, too, are led by an experienced coach, Pabi Gueye, who has won titles in his homeland, Senegal, and masterminded AS Douanes’ trip to the BAL final in 2023.
That same year, he earned the competition’s Coach of the Year title for guiding AS Douanes to a major milestone. Since that final, Gueye made one more appearance at the BAL, which eluded him last year as he failed to qualify for the tournament with a star-laden Urunani team from Burundi. The move to DarCity has helped reopen the door to the BAL for Gueye, and he will work hard to ensure that his club gives a strong showing in their tournament debut.
Gueye has an impressive record as a former player and now coach. During his playing days he won four Senegal NM1 trophies (2011, 2008, 2005 and 1998) and two Senegal Cup titles. His career too him to Morocco where he won a league (2008) and cup titles (2006).
He is just as decorated as a coach. Gueye won seven domestic championships (2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2014) and to with the league trophy collection he has won six cup titles (2024, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2014).
Gueye is a defensive-minded coach, and a player like Atiki Ally Atiki will fit whatever defensive scheme he draws up as he offers solid rim protection and rebounding. As he prepares for the DarCity for the opener against the Giants, Gueye said the following:
“Dar City’s preparation for its first participation in the BAL is generally going well. The managers did their part to put us in very good conditions to prepare for this competition, and that is very important for a project like ours,” said Gueye.
He also reflected that neither team is a closed book to the other. “Our last match against them was an eye-opener, on both ends of the pitch. We started the match very well, but we did not manage our emotions in the difficult moments. It’s a team that we know well, but they also know us,” said Gueye.
The Giants will have the backing of the home crowd, egging them on, while DarCity will look to spoil the party.
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