A pair of basketball players have scored a slam dunk following their selection to the USSA national basketball team set to compete in the 2022 International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Student Games scheduled to unfold in the Chinese city of Chengdu this coming June.
Following storming performances for WSU during the Universities Sports South Africa (USSA) Games which took place in Gqeberha last year, point guards Giovanni Jaftha and Olebogeng Matabane rightfully earned themselves a spot in the nation’s university team that’s heading to China.
“It’s truly an honour and overwhelming for me to be picked to represent my country. This is indeed a dream come true for me and I will do everything in my power to represent and make my country proud,” said Jaftha.
A second-year sports management student at the university’s Buffalo City Campus, Jaftha hails from the modest suburb of Heideveld in Cape Town where his journey as a basketball player began a decade ago as an eighth grade learner.
His undeniable talent has seen him becoming a regular feature on the local sports channels after appearing for the Eastern Cape Windbreakers semi-professional team which participates in the country’s premier basketball competition, the Basketball National League.
“Playing in the national league is of course an invaluable experience as it exposes me to the highest levels of competition in the country. Playing against the best means you constantly have to improve yourself so you can compete with the best,” said Jaftha.
His teammate, former under 16 national team player, shooting guard and Olebogeng Matabane, attributed his own success to years of fine-tuning his talent through thousands of hours of practice.
Born and bred in the North West province city of Rustenburg, the second-year fine art student stumbled upon basketball about 9 years ago after he attended basketball practice following a fight he was involved in which the basketball coach managed to diffuse.
“That day changed my life until this day as it made me realise a potential I never knew I possessed. Through basketball, I’ve been able to travel all over the continent from Botswana to Ethiopia as a youth basketball player,” said Matabane.
WSU basketball team coach, Sibusiso Williams, was at pains to stress the great significance of the duo being picked for the national team.
Williams said: ” I’m so happy for the boys and the entire WSU basketball programme – this is the first time in the existence of basketball in the university that we’ve had players being picked for a national team.”
Heaping praises upon the university’s newest stars, Williams delved into the stats that got the duo selected following the USSA tournament, highlighting that Matabane racked up the most points for the entire tournament, whilst Jaftha lead the same competition in assists.
By Thando Cezula