(PRETORIA) It has not been the best preparation for host nation South Africa going into this year’s FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket. Still, team captain Reatlegile Taukobong is taking the situation in her stride.
The South African team was assembled last Wednesday, giving them little time to prepare for the tournament, which starts on Monday. But on Saturday night’s media day, Taukobong, an MVP of this year’s National Women’s Inter-Provincial Tournament, and her teammates were in high spirits ahead of the AfroBasket.
While they were upbeat during the photo sessions, Taukobong was aware of their situation and acknowledged the feeling of “anxiety” within the team.
“We are happy that we can organise the tournament, but there is a feeling of anxiety about our preparedness. We know teams like Egypt have been preparing for a long time. They have had their team for months,” said Taukobong. “On our side, I feel our coaches are doing their best to get us on par with everything… With the team bonding, the time has been limited… But we are getting there.”
With the added pressure of hosting the best from the continent, ensuring that the South African team is a cohesive unit is paramount and that partly rests on Taukobong’s shoulders.
She says her teammates have made it easy for her by understanding the role they need to play for collective success.
“They are a special group of players. One of the biggest fears in the team was not being able to connect, but when we saw each other, we instantly bonded,” said Taukobong. “At the practices, everyone is pushing hard. As captain, I don’t need to do much because everyone knows what they have to do. They all know what time to wake up. I don’t need to tell them, ‘Do this, do that’.
“It’s been amazing. I love this team.”
South Africa opens their Group A campaign against Rwanda at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall – for the battle against the East Africans, Taukobong feels she and her teammates are for the task.
“One of the things we should all do is implement what we have been practising. Our camp was short, but we did not run in the sun for hours and hours for nothing. Also, our communication needs work, especially in defence. I feel like once we have that going then we will be good,” said Taukobong.
Asked what she would want to gain from the AfroBasket competition, Taukobong, a camper at Basketball Without Borders, says she hopes to excel in leadership.
“… Because I am captain (of the national team), I want to learn how it feels to lead a country. I am leading South Africa. At the end of the tournament, I am going to ask my coach how I did as captain. I want to know if I am a good enough leader,” said Taukobong. “Also, we are playing against other countries from the African continent is going to be great exposure and experience.”
Taukobong holds a positive outlook and she understands that this tournament is a learning curve for the South African team. Despite the troubled preparation she now has to rally her troops on the court to give the best version of themselves against the best on the African continent.
2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AfroBasket fixtures:
1 pm: Tunisia vs Cameroon
3.30 pm: South Africa vs Rwanda
6 pm: Egypt vs Nigeria
8:30 pm: Zimbabwe vs Uganda
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