DYLAN Lele’s emergence in basketball has always been about him biding his time. It also meant being realistic and taking a less travelled road to reach his dream.
Speaking to The Big Tip Off from Cameroon, a few days before the recently concluded AfroCan qualifiers commenced, Lele explained that while his heart lay with basketball, he knew relying solely on a future in the game wasn’t feasible. That logic led him to pursue education in South Africa, where basketball is played, but definitely not at the same level as in his homeland.
Wise counsel from his older brother was critical, as it affirmed the 29-year-old’s decision to pursue education while holding on to his dream.
“Our big brother reminded us, ‘If you can’t make it immediately as a pro, there is another way; you can go to school’. So yes, when I left Cameroon, I was not thinking about going overseas like most players. I wanted to play in Africa,” said former Vaal University of Technology student. “The good thing now is that there is the BAL, so we can continue to play in Africa.
“So when I came to SA, I was focused on my studies. It’s hard on the continent, so you must have a backup plan. That’s what I did. I focused on my studies,” said the holder of a qualification in Mechanical Engineering.
Entering the big stage with Jozi Nuggets
While still studying, Lele, then a Jozi Nuggets player, realised he could go far in basketball after competing in the 2022 South Africa Basketball National Club Championship, where they eventually lost to the star-laden Cape Town Tigers.
“That was the moment. Playing in USSA is university basketball, but playing against Tigers was different because they were representing South Africa on the continent,” the former Vaal University of Technology student said. “I was playing for Coach Andile (Hlophe) and South African legend Neo (Mothiba), and playing next to them and being able to express yourself against a team like Cape Town Tigers, who had very good players. I was like, ok, if I can score one, two, three (points) and play defence, then I should think about exploring more.
“That was the moment. I told myself I should put myself in a situation where I can be seen a bit more, and that’s what happened.”
Exposure to the Road to BAL
He got more exposure at the 2025 Road to BAL Elite 16 tournament, where he wore the Malawian club Bravehearts’ vest and competed against top-tier talent across the continent.
Lele explained that his debut at the BAL qualifying tournament was a chance to measure himself against Africa’s best.
“That is what is good about playing in Africa. Being able to face these guys, and you have the opportunity to judge yourself and see where you are and what you need to improve on,” said Lele, who played in two Road BAL games for Bravehearts and averaged six points. “I am thankful to Coach Griffin (Kalua) for getting the opportunity to test myself against those types of players.
“It was great. It was great. I think the level of basketball in Africa is just going up. Everyone wants to be part of the Road to BAL. Everyone wants to win.”
BAL debut did not pan out
While every player wants to contribute to team success, he couldn’t fulfil that with the Johannesburg Giants. After last year’s national championships win, Lele saw minimal playing time in the South African club’s successful Road to BAL debut.
His chances of playing in the Giants’ first BAL appearance this year were limited to the final game against Angola’s Petro de Luanda in a dead rubber, where Lele scored 11 points in a humbling 105-61 loss.
Reflecting on the limited game time with the Giants, who finished 5-0 in their BAL debut, Lele did not hide his disappointment. He felt he had prepared himself to play in the Kalahari Conference in Pretoria.
“I am not gonna lie to you. I wish I played more. I was very confident. I think I was well-prepared, and I really wanted to play more and help my team,” said Lele. ” We couldn’t win a game. It didn’t go the way we wanted, but it was our first year, and we were learning.”
He said he made the most of his minutes against Petro. “I was just waiting for my opportunity. I got 16 minutes, and I told myself, ‘I just need to make the best out of it’,” said Lele. “It was a very good experience, but I just wish I could have played more. We are trying to go back to that level again, and hopefully if I am still part of the team I will have a chance to express myself more.”
Joining the Indomitable Lions
His international exposure (at the Road to BAL and the BAL) earned him a spot on the Indomitable Lions A team for the AfroCan qualifiers held in his homeland last week. Lele got the national team call during the Johannesburg Giants’ preparation for the South African national club championships, meaning he had to leave his club for the national cause.
“I think when I got the message, we were practising for the national champs. After practice, I saw the message, and I told my teammates, ‘If you don’t see me, just know I got a call from the national team coaching staff’,” said Lele. “It was a great feeling. ‘I told myself, keep playing’ and finally it paid off.”
Interestingly, Lele grew his play in the challenging environment of South African basketball. While he has played in the Road to BAL Bravehearts and Giants, the latter club plays in amateur settings in Johannesburg. As such, he had to answer questions about his playing circumstances in South Africa when he set foot in Cameroon.
“It’s something I have had to deal with. ‘Do they even play basketball there, is there even a league that side’?”, said Lele. “As a player, you shouldn’t wait for things to get better. It’s sad there is no strong competition in South Africa. There is so much talent, but it’s the situation. So you have to stay in shape, play well and sometimes you get unexpected opportunities.”
In his first outing with the national team, Lele had a rough start in the 83-80 loss to Gabon, going 0-for-2 from the three-point range in his 6:42 minutes on the court.
In Cameroon’s next game against Congo, an unforgettable fixture and night for Lele, who made the most of his minutes, scoring an impressive 20 points and shooting better from the three-point range (5/10).
Gabon secured qualification for next year’s Afrocan with a 2-0 record, denying Lele and Cameroon, but the memory of wearing the Indomitable Lions’ jersey will be ingrained forever. This is what he told The Big Tip Off after the qualifiers.
“It was amazing. It was the first time for most of us. It’s just sad we couldn’t qualify. We wanted to finish first at home in front of our fans. Unfortunately, we couldn’t,” said Lele. “We are going to learn from that, and if we have another opportunity to represent the country again, we are going to do better.”
He spoke on his 20-point performance. “My teammates were looking for me every time I was open, and when they realised I had a hot hand, they were just finding me and I was just shooting the ball,” said Lele. “I am happy we managed to finish on a good note and hopefully we will have another opportunity.”
Wearing the Cameroon jersey is a proud moment for Dylan as wearing the green vest has become a family affair. He hoped to step onto the same court with his younger brother Valentin, who is well acquainted with the feeling of wearing the Indomitable Lions jersey and has worn it into battle at the ongoing 2027 World Cup Qualifiers, 2025 AfroBasket and 2023 AfroCan.
“It’s amazing. The family is very proud. I wish he was there so I could share the court with him, but he got a contract and he had go and play for his team (St Medard),” said Lele.
Reflecting on his journey, he attributes everything to God, “It’s God’s timing. I was doing everything on my side, putting in work that could land me in the right situation at the right moment,” said Lele. I had played in the BAL, which was good for my CV, and that’s how I got pre-selected. I then had to go home and prove I could play and make the final team. And that’s what I did.”
The road Lele has travelled best describes the adage that it is not about the destination but the journey, a journey of commitment and facing challenges. In the end, it led to great reward.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for all the latest feature stories and previews of events on the African continent.
