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Armed with their brand new sneakers and an attitude of confidence, the KwaDabeka basketball team (aka The Clan) prepared to compete in the DHS Easter Tournament, against 25 schools from across Southern Africa.

A few weeks prior to this tournament, the boys had been awarded with silver medals for coming second in a tournament at Marion Hills. This achievement had earned them a place in the Ethekwini Basketball league, which will start in August of this year.

They still maintain that their success is due to the generosity of a team of volunteers from a church in America, who donated new sneakers to the team earlier on in the year. You can check out some photo’s from that experience here.

Peaking on the confidence from this tournament, they got ready for their four-day long stint at Durban Boys High School. The point of the tournament, which happens annually, is to grow the game of basketball among schools and communities in Southern Africa. There were a range of different places represented in the tournament, ranging from Zimbabwe to Johannesburg.

Day One, saw the boys playing a fierce game against The Glenn, a team from Johburg, and claiming a victory. Day Two wasn’t as fortunate as the boys found themselves losing to DHS and to Peterhouse College, a team from Zimbabwe. But they didn’t let this get them down.

Day Three was a big win for them against Mount Currie High, from the Eastern Cape, which meant that Day Four was a playoff game which would decide where they would be ranked amongst the top ten.

Out of 25 schools in Southern Africa, our CAST basketball team from KwaDabeka community, was awarded eighth place – a huge success, and one that has put a smile on their faces for the rest of the month.

What followed were interviews from Supersport about the journey of the team as well as an immense confidence boost for all the boys.

One of the boys is also now a candidate for a basketball and rugby scholarship at DHS, which the team at CAST is very proud of.  This was a great achievement for first timers in the tournament and has given them the motivation they need to compete in upcoming tournaments this year.

If you are interested and keen to get involved in the coaching of basketball or soccer, or are willing to help our team out in any way, please get in touch with us!