Cape Town Tigers Sign Lebesa Selepe
Lebesa Selepe is without a doubt one of South Africa’s most decorated players. Selepe had a stellar varsity career which saw him win several trophies and USSA titles with the University of Witswatersrand and Vaal University of Technology, the two most celebrated and successful varsity basketball programmes in South Africa. Subsequently, he had an impressive stint with the Soweto Panthers of the Basketball National League (BNL), unfortunately, like several of the country’s marquee basketball players, Selepe has not featured as a player in BNL for the past few years, due to disagreement’s with the nature of league management. Nevertheless, as the French adage goes “un bon jouer ne manque pas d’equipe” (a good player never lacks a team) and living up to this assertion Selepe has plied his trade with Johannesburg Basketball League (JBL) champions Jozi Nuggets. Jozi Nuggets were generally regarded as the most competitive side in the South African basketball club landscape until the arrival on the scene of the Cape Town Tigers, who defeated the Nuggets in the South African national club championships, to secure a birth as South Africa’s representative at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) East qualifiers. The Nuggets loss was especially difficult for Selepe, who was also part of the team in 2019, when they were knocked out in the preliminary round of the of the inaugural BAL zonal qualifiers.
With the Tiger’s success, there was a general belief that Selepe and his Nuggets teammates would have to wait another year to have their chance at revenge from their Cape Town counterparts. And while the basketball community earnestly awaited for this occasion, Selepe was meticulously carving out as a basketball commentator and analyst on DSTV’s Supersport. However, in the same way you can never fully take away a soldier from the battlefield, a baller will always answer the call of duty on the court. In the lead up to the last leg of the BAL qualifiers for the West Division, which will run from 7-11 December, rumours surfaced that the Tigers were looking to make some roster adjustments. Speculation grew after it was revealed, Tiger’s point guard and Nigerian international Ben Uzoh would be unavailable for the final leg, due to administrative issues. Considering the circumstances at play, it was a no brainer for the Tigers coaching and management body to call up Selepe to the squad. Selepe is a versatile and multi-skilled player who is a good shooter and can also serve as a primary ball handler.
In addition to above mentioned domestic accolades, Selepe also has international experience, having played with the South African senior men’s side at Afrobasket 2017, whereby he averaged 6.3 points per game and 3.3 rebounds during the competition. Selepe’s national team experience will be beneficial to the Tigers in a twofold manner. Firstly, he will be reunited with the likes of Pieter Prinsloo, Chris Gabriel, Miguel Ferrao, Lehlogonolo Tholo and Somusa Mthembu, with whom he played with during the Afrobasket 2017 qualifiers and tournament. In this regard, the aspect of team chemistry remains largely intact. Secondly, Selepe’s international experience will come handy against the top level talent, the Tigers are set to face. This includes, Burundi’s representative, New Star, was the surprise package of the preliminary qualifiers which took place in Dar-Es Salaam, Tanzania, finishing undefeated. For this round of qualifiers, whereby their first fixture will pit them against the Tigers, they have added former Spanish junior team member and Ferroviario de Maputo player Alvaro Maso as well as Rwandan international and ex-Patriots BBC star Kenneth Gasana to their squads. Both players featured at the BAL last year and their inclusion on the New Stars roster is a sign of their intentions which players will like Selepe will hope to stand as a challenge to. Furthermore, the likes of Kenya’s Ulinzi Warriors and fellow Southern African side Ferroviario de Beira, both of teams whom the Tigers might meet in the knockout stage, are the type of competition which have warranted Selepe’s selection.
Nevertheless, despite the undisputable talent factor which led to Selepe’s signing, basketball observers cannot ignore the apparent bad blood which emerged from between the Tigers and Nuggets fans and administrators following the former’s victory at the club championships. During a conversation which this author had with Selepe, in which I wanted to get his insight regarding the qualities and shortcomings of a Tiger’s player, Selepe stated, he wanted to respectfully refrain from commenting about players from that team. He likened his stance to the Bulls-Pistons rivalry which gripped the NBA for the later part of the 1980’s into the early 1990’s. Selepe’s position was based on principle and could been seen as the trademark of a true competitor, which makes his move to the Tigers even more compelling, as reports suggest that former South African national team captain and Nuggets star Neo Mothiba, was also approached to suit up for the Tigers, but declined the offer.
Irrespective of the animosities and intrigues prevailing between the Tigers and Nuggets, Selepe’s move should be applauded and shows pragmatism and maturity from both the player and the Tiger’s. Selepe belongs to the generation of South African players who have been robbed of playing regularly at the highest levels of continental competition, be it at the club or national team level, largely due to poor management by federation authorities. The Tigers BAL ambitions offers him an opportunity which many have wanted, yet few have had the opportunity to be provided with. Moreover, the Tigers are on the verge of making South African basketball history, with potential qualification for the BAL and therefore, this would be the ideal time for all basketball stakeholders, including players, to keep aside their petty rivalries, in order to achieve this objective, which could have a host of positive ramifications on the South African basketball landscape.
