Khayelitsha Basketball defeated the Cape Town Sharks under-18 touring squad 43-35 in Gugulethu on Sunday, January 26.
Five additional matches were held in Week Two of the Kasi Invitational Games at the Gugulethu sports complex, with Khayelitsha continuing their strong performance.
The Sharks under-18 squad are getting ready to represent South Africa at a basketball tournament in Switzerland, in June. The event includes eight teams from Spain, USA, Finland and Switzerland.
On Sunday, however, despite getting a lesson, the match against Khayelitsha could have gone either way.
Coach Neal Bekkers’ under-18 side showed heart but lacked discipline at crucial, match-deciding moments.
Sharks were instrumental at attacking but took their time to regroup in defence. The moment they had regrouped, Khayelitsha had already gained meters.
For coach Lindile Khetelo’s side, they had to work for the win. In the dying moments of the match, the Sharks were coming for them, Khayelitsha were beginning to show signs of fatigue, but moving the ball and experience won them the game at the end.
The camaraderie was event in the other four matches in the Kasi Invitational Games this past weekend.
Umoja Basketball won 61-14 against Crossroads Basketball Club.
Pride Basketball Club narrowly lost by 63-48 to the Cape Waves in one of the entertaining matches of the day.
Right after that, Khayelitsha Basketball Club’s women’s team beat Mbekweni Shaq Squad by 46-43.
The women’s match had heart, speed and skill throughout.
Coach Lindile Sizani’s Shaq Squad had control of the ball but could not convert it into enough points to win.
In moments when they won possession, Shaq Squad were quick in attack. When they were defending, however, they had one player left that had to mark two players with an overlapping run.
Khayelitsha Basketball’s women’s team on the other hand had the competitiveness to capitalise on that at a very crucial moment in the match, earning them the three point difference that won them the game.
Closing off the day, the host team, Gugulethu Hustlers won 35-27 against Mbekweni Shaq Squad’s men’s first team.
Gugulethu’s Madoda Kumalo said the organisers look forward to making these games an annual event that will help prepare players and clubs for their leagues.
“In March, the organisers plan to host a two-day bragging rights event, with the winner receiving a rotating trophy,” said Kumalo.
The Kasi Invitational Games will continue at the Gugulethu sports complex on Sunday February 2. Matches will run from 12pm until 5pm, featuring teams such as the Cape Town Sharks, Khayelitsha Stars, Cape Waves, Gladiators, Pride, Hustlers and Delft.
