Basketball in Africa

KTA All Stars basketball club reached the semi final stage of the Chariotors Easter Basketball tournament held in Mamelodi, Pretoria. KTA was in the senior males category which had 12 teams and was divided into two groups. The Khubetsoana club was in group B alongside; Chariotors, Pretoria Heat, Blizzards, Randburg Rhinos and Kwa-thema S. Machines.

The Lesotho club arrived in Mamelodi on Good Friday at 6pm and played their first group game of the tournament against the host team Chariotors at 9pm the very same day, KTA won convincingly by a margin of 45-35. The next match for the Lesotho Basketballers was against a weaker team from Kwa-thema and the Khubetsoana team won 52-26.

At 4pm on Saturday, KTA played Randburg Rhinos, a team based in South Africa comprising of players from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana. Randburg Rhinos dominated the game physically from the first whistle and the teams went into half time Rhinos leading 23-21. After the break the Lesotho players crumbled from the aggressive play applied by the Rhinos and KTA lost 48-33.

The activities for the day were not over as KTA was still scheduled to play one more game at 10pm against Blizzards. KTA recovered from their earlier loss to Rhinos and dominated the game from start to finish and won 47-32.

KTA played their last group game against Pretoria Heat, a team that has dominated the Easter Tournament over the past three years. The Heat team comprises of South Africa national team players and foreign players from other African countries. Heat rested some of their key players for the match against KTA but managed to win 44-36.

After the final group game KTA was 3^rd in group B and advanced to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals KTA faced Limpopo. The Limpopo team put up a fierce fight but KTA walked away with the victory 58-43. After this win KTA advanced to the semis and faced the Heat again. This time the Heat was much stronger and completely outplayed the All Stars 54-30, to advance to the finals.

Pretoria Heat went on to win the tournament by beating Chariotors B team convincingly in the finals and walked away with the R5000.00 cash prize for the 3^rd consecutive year.

“This was a very good challenge for KTA. As local league champs and Top4 Finals winners, we represented Lesotho well and have created bonds and relations with other teams and are willing to come and play in Lesotho to share their expertise. Also this was a learning experience for the KTA players, to gain some international exposure as about 9 players from KTA have made the trials for the Lesotho Senior National basketball team,” said Ratsolo Molupe, KTA Team Manager.

KTA Line –up:

Sekhoane Moshabesha

Setsomali Moshabesha

Lejone Thakanyane

Molale Monnapula

Malebo Mohasi

Teboho Nkotsi

Tsepo Mohapi

Tsepo Ntsoele

Mofoka Makatja

Thabang Klaas

Ratsolo Molupe

Motloli Mothepu

Results:

KTA 45-35 Chariotors

KTA 33-48 Randburg Rhinos

KTA 47-32 Blizzards

KTA 52-26 Kwa-thema S Machines

KTA36-44 Pretoria Heat

KTA 58-41 Limpopo (Quaterfinals)

KTA 30-54 Pretoria Heat (Semifinals)