SOUTH African basketball is rich in potential but trapped in a cycle of dysfunction. Despite having excellent infrastructure, South Africa lags due to deep-rooted leadership issues within basketball. These problems were evident during the 2024 BAL Nile Conference, where Johannesburg-based Made By Basketball (MBB) finished with a 2-4 record, missing the playoffs and raising familiar questions about the country’s readiness to compete at the highest level.
Head coach Sam Vincent, a former NBA player and seasoned coach, did not hold back in assessing the situation in the post-game presser.
“We came into camp a little late. We were still adding players, we don’t have a formal league in South Africa to give four or five months of development and playing together as a team to prepare for this competition,” said the former Nigeria national women’s team coach.
Vincent pointed out the lack of consistent, competitive basketball in the country. Even in the country’s national league, the BNL, an entity no longer recognised by Basketball South Africa, undermines growth at every level.
“I saw the schedule for the BNL league, and there are maybe three games for the season. It’s just not enough competition. If South African players are going to improve and get better, they need to play regularly,” he stated.
Vincent’s counterpart from Al Ahli Tripoli, Coach Fouad Abou Chacra, whose team defeated MBB twice in the tournament, offered a moment of camaraderie. While praising South Africa’s raw talent, he highlighted the disconnect between potential and preparation.
“The team needs to be more organised, I know many of these players and they can perform well. But the coach is the pilot; he needs more time to bring the plane up and down safely,” said Abou Chacra.
He emphasised the importance of cultural awareness and long-term commitment when building a national basketball program
“I didn’t bring my program and impose it in Libya. I studied the culture… You can’t make generals into soldiers. Coaches need to adapt their philosophy to fit the people.”
No League, No Rhythm
MBB’s Pieter Prinsloo provided a frank assessment of the situation, pointing directly at the federation’s failure to establish a functioning professional league. “We need our federation to have a real, competitive league so we can prepare. Every other team in this competition will be playing in a league from October to November until April and May.”
He noted that countries like Egypt produce BAL-calibre teams because their players consistently stay in rhythm and compete in a professional league.
“Al Ittihad just reached the finals in Egypt, and US Monastir just played the finals with Club Africain. All these countries have a pro league, these players are in rhythm and playing the whole year,” said Prinsloo. “South Africa, unfortunately, is stuck in a situation where there are too many complications, and we don’t have a pro league that works.”
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Once MBB took to the floor, they looked a step slower than the opposition in the games they lost. South Africa’s representatives entered the tournament undercooked, having only completed a six-week training camp.
“We’re coming in off a six-week training camp and expected to put it all together, and it’s hard,” Prinsloo admitted.
However, it wasn’t just a lack of structure, it was a lack of cohesion. Prinsloo pointed out that teams like Tripoli displayed fluid, cohesive basketball because their players played together consistently.
“A team like Tripoli play incredible team basketball because they’ve been together throughout the whole year, some for multiple years,” said Prinsloo. “I arrived a week and a half before. Some of the guys arrived just four days before we flew here,” Prinsloo said.
The net result was that iTeam Yase Dladleni was still trying to find its rhythm while already in competition. “There were many moments where we didn’t play well, and you could tell that we were still a group of individuals coming together.”
A Window of Opportunity
Vincent believes the way forward is clear, but it won’t be easy. He insists that a long-term national league is essential, stating it must run for at least five to six months and provide 20 to 25 games per season if talent is to develop. “There has to be a more formal national league, consistent play is how you grow a program,” said Vincent.
He also called for better cooperation within the basketball community, from administrators to club owners and federation officials, to build sustainable systems rather than isolated efforts. Despite MBB’s early exit, Vincent remains optimistic. With the BAL Playoffs coming to Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, he encouraged fans to show up, engage with the sport, and experience world-class basketball on home soil.
“It’s amazing basketball. It’s a great competition. The entertainment and the arenas are NBA-style. You won’t get an NBA-style experience in Africa unless you attend a BAL event.”
South Africa does not lack talent. It lacks time on the court, structure off of it, and alignment among those driving the game forward. Until these gaps are closed, the country will continue to fall behind, not for lack of ability but for lack of preparation.
The BAL is bringing Africa’s best to Pretoria. The hope is that it can also inspire a sense of urgency because the window for South African basketball to catch up is still open, but won’t be open forever.
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