Lufuno Mutungutungu looking to lead Limpopo Pride to glory

Lufuno Mutungutungu is one of South Africa’s most promising players who is currently featuring for the Limpopo Pride in her second season of Women’s Basketball National League (WBNL) action. At the time of writing Mutungutungu was averaging 18.5 points per game and 19 rebounds per contest in the two games that she has played. In this interview, Full Court Press decided to delve into Mutungutungu’s basketball journey, what she looks to achieve during the 2023 WBNL campaign and her views on the current state of South African female basketball.

How did you get interested in basketball?

Lufuno: I am Pretoria born and raised and started by playing netball at school. However, I gradually got interested in basketball due to the influence and encouragement of my mother (none other than Coach Brenda Mutungutungu). Since the high school I went to didn’t have basketball, for grades 11 and 12, I enrolled at the Western Cape School of Sports (WCSS) in Cape Town. Whilst studying there and under the guidance of former South African junior national team coach Thesline Davids I became more serious with basketball. My efforts enabled me to be selected for the South African U-20 side and I was subsequently offered a bursary to play at the University of Johannesburg, where I was based from 2015-2019.

You made your WBNL debut with the Limpopo Pride in 2022. How did you perceive your first season of play?

Lufuno: I was very happy to be part of the league. Playing at club level in Gauteng meant that we played against the same competition which became repetitive. However, facing teams from across the country is a refreshing development and has encouraged us to train harder and become more serious with the sport.

How did you adjust to playing basketball at this current level?

Lufuno: I had very little time to prepare for the 2022 season (her first in the WBNL) as there was lack of training time and the compact playing schedule did not allow me to play at my best. And although the game was very fast paced, I had a great coach, Willy Matlakala and the team was able to develop great chemistry as well. The first-year experience was great, and I eventually got used to being a WBNL player.

What are the strong points of the Limpopo Pride team?

Lufuno: The team has experience, so we know what to expect and will have no excuses in that regard. There have been roster changes, but we still have good height, a more diverse set of skills offered by players, and we have several veterans who add significant value to team efforts.

What goals have you set for yourself and the team?

Lufuno: I want the Limpopo Pride to reach the finals and will do my utmost to carry the team so we can achieve that objective.

Who do you look forward to playing against?

Lufuno: Every game is a new game. I don’t have a particular opponent who I am looking forward to playing against, but I hope to give the same energy during each game.

How do you feel about the overall impact of the WBNL on women’s basketball?

Lufuno: I think that it is a great platform, however, it has a more gainful impact on older players who went through the different developmental phases of playing at district, provincial, varsity and national team basketball. Younger players who have not experienced this are skipping development stages by being thrown into the deep end of playing at the WBNL. This leads to a lot of pressure and potential frustration if a player isn’t getting game time. And whilst the WBNL is a great avenue for exposure, the league is the apex of basketball activity, and one needs to ask what is happening with women’s basketball for the other nine months of the year.

Any concluding remarks?

Lufuno: I intend to give my all and have a good season.