South Africa is a proud sporting nation. Just this year, Banyana Banyana etched history by advancing to the round of 16 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Soon, the Springboks will embark on a journey to defend their title as the world’s premier rugby team, and the Proteas continue to be ranked among the best cricket teams in the world. However, beyond these widely known accomplishments lies a lesser-known fact: the Rainbow Nation boasts one of the finest wheelchair basketball teams on the continent. The Wheelchair Basketball Association of South Africa (WBSA) is dedicated to bringing this remarkable achievement to the forefront.
Charles Saunders, CEO and Secretary General of WBSA says “What people seem to forget is that wheelchair basketball is incredibly popular. During the London Paralympics, it drew nearly 40 million viewers, and its finals have garnered viewership comparable to the iconic 100m finals.”
Saunders went on to add, “With the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, we have some incredible talent and aspire for South Africans to rally behind us, just as they do for other sporting disciplines.”
While enjoying global acclaim, South African wheelchair basketball players face challenges beyond their disabilities. When he was young, William Ruba used to be pushed around in a shopping cart in Alexandra Township in Johannesburg. Through an incredible amount of hard work and a small slice of luck, he managed to pull himself out of his situation and become the chairman of wheelchair basketball in the North West, a province known for producing some of the country’s best talent. Unfortunately, not everyone is as fortunate as William and even when they are, there is a price to be paid.
Saunders says, “Just like any other sport, the cost of equipment is high. Competing requires a custom wheelchair, which averages between R40,000 and R90,000. Even if you don’t have that, playing on an outdoor court regularly means you will probably need a new set of tyres every four weeks. Most of our athletes just don’t have that money.”
The equipment struggle is still a persistent hurdle for numerous wheelchair basketball players. Witnessing this challenge, Vuma, South Africa’s leading fibre network operator, collaborated with Saunders and WBSA athletes to alleviate some of these constraints. This support allows players to focus on their true passion – shooting hoops.
Lianne Williams, Marketing Director at Vuma, says, “For us, this partnership transcends endorsing the nation’s finest athletes; it’s about enabling ordinary South Africans to achieve the extraordinary, knowing that with a little help, we can all truly be limitless. Through our partnership with Charles, we are connecting with some of the countries most vulnerable athletes and together, we can make a difference in their lives and brighten up their future careers in the sport. Our belief “if we can, we must” speaks to heart of what we do which is believing in our communities and supporting initiatives like this.”
