I have been in basketball for as long as I can remember. My all time favorite basketball athlete was referred to as "the best there is, the best there ever will be". That was in the National Basketball Association' s sports commentators on Michael Jordan. There was a great hope for me in basketball for the future. I dreamt of going to the NBA even though I was to be only 6ft tall and not much of a player. I did coach the Provincial women team to the SASSU competition though.
One event caused the demise of basketball. A court case between the Premier Basketball League and Basketball South Africa. Briefly, the PBL was a private organisation whose activities were perceived to be not conducive to the growth and development of basketball in the country. This in that the PBL had no administrative relationship with the stewards of basketball in the country, Basketball South Africa.
This court case did a lot of damage to basketball in South Africa. What was once the fastest growing sport has become the most stagnant sport in South Africa. The two groups were so focused on their righteousness that they forgot the people who make the sport to tick, the athletes and supporters. These are the main people who make things happen.
Today, basketball in the Republic of South Africa does not have direction. We have great people who are passionate about the game starting own leagues, others in private capacity through companies and others publicly. What comes to mind is the League of Professionals in Johannesburg, the Metro Basketball league and the Gauteng basketball league. We have other leagues outside the Gauteng Province which are in the public sphere. I am amazed at the love that stills exists for basketball. I am deeply touched by the men and women who stand up for basketball. The sport is truly one of the best in the world.
The corporate world has distanced itself from basketball , but the game still lives.
South Africa, what can we do to attract the Corporate World back to basketball? The court case of PBL as SABasketball is over now. It has been quite for a long time. People are hungry. Imagine the jobs that can be created through the re-birth of the PBL.
It is each one of us' responsibility. Let us share ideas, South Africa. What can we do to reclaim the position of basketball in the country?
About Me
- Setlogelo
- Basketball is my sport. I live for it. So does the many men and women who were ever involved in the sport, as athletes,officials, owners of teams, and supporters. So does everyone who is involved with the sport, one way or another at this moment. I have aspired to become a player, I have aspired to become a manager in basketball. At the moment I do as much as I can to ensure that there are competitive games for those who aspired the way I used to. However it is practically impossible to reach your dreams when there is a ceiling above you. The unavailability of a proffessional league in South Africa is that ceiling. I do not have to ask what happens to the athletes in the high school basketball leagues, or students at Universities who look forward to the SASSU Games for good competition. There are some good athletes who have given their lives to basketball. But in life, one has to make money, a lot of money to live and establish a good legacy. I have started my company Candor cc with a view to find ways of assisting Premier Basketball league to reclaim its position in the South African Sport. Last but not least, I love basketball! Don't we all?
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