{"id":76183,"date":"2025-06-30T14:50:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T12:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=76183"},"modified":"2025-06-30T14:50:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T12:50:58","slug":"south-african-basketball-squad-ready-to-challenge-at-region-5-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=76183","title":{"rendered":"South African basketball squad ready to challenge at Region 5 Games"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Allie
Rehaan Allie his aiming to help South Africa to stake a claim to being the basketball power of Region 5 Youth Games in Namibia. Photo. Supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The South African u16 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams are part of a large contingent of 198 athletes selected to represent Team South Africa (SA)<\/strong> at the forthcoming 11th Region 5 Youth Games<\/strong>, which take place in Namibia from 4 July to 13 July.<\/p>\n

The Region 5 Youth Games, an initiative of the African Union Sport Council<\/strong>, involves 10 participating countries – Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namiyibia,<\/strong> South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia<\/strong>, and Zimbabwe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The event also includes athletes with visual impairments and those competing in the Special Olympics.<\/p>\n

Team South Africa will compete in a wide variety of sports, including athletics, visually impaired athletics, basketball, boxing, football, judo, karate, netball, Special Olympics (athletics), swimming, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball.<\/p>\n

In the previous Region 5 Games, held in Lilongwe, Malawi, in 2022, Team South Africa excelled and finished top of the medal table with a total of 113, including 60 gold medals.<\/p>\n

The Games have previously played host to athletes who gone on to fame on the world stage, including Olympic gold medallists, Wayde van Niekerk<\/strong> and Caster Semenya<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The South African basketball teams are eager to make their mark. Among the players is the somewhat reserved yet intensely competitive point guard Reza Creamer<\/strong><\/a>, from St John’s College, who also plays club basketball for the Jozi Stars<\/strong> and Westcliff Eagles<\/strong>. He will have a key role to play for South Africa.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Reza Creamer in action at AISJ tournament. Photo: Tyler Dendere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the girls’ team, watch out for Mamello Nalenyane<\/strong> and Bokang Lefakane<\/strong>, both from the Soweto Basketball Academy.<\/p>\n

The South African lineup also includes Allie Rehaan<\/strong>\u00a0and Thabo Marotola<\/strong>, from Cape Town.<\/p>\n

Shafiek Allie, <\/strong>Rehaan’s father, who coaches both players, told SuperSport Schools Plus<\/strong> that Rehaan began his basketball journey at the age of six, and participated in his first u12 game at just eight years of age.<\/p>\n

Rehaan, who attends Pinelands High School<\/strong>, was named the Jnr NBA MVP<\/strong> in 2023, Top Schools u14 MVP<\/strong> in 2023, Wynberg Boys Basketball Tournament<\/strong> u16 MVP in 2024, IPT March All Star<\/strong> that same year, IPT March All Star<\/strong> in 2025, and a Soweto Uprising Basketball Tournament<\/strong> All Star<\/strong> in 2025.\u00a0He has represented Western Province<\/strong> since 2023.<\/p>\n

Marotola joined the Montana Vikings Basketball Club 16 months ago, having begun his basketball career with Cape Waves<\/strong>, now known as Linge Basketball Academy<\/strong>. He has been part of the provincial team since 2023 and was named an IPT March 2025<\/strong> All Star<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The South African u16 basketball teams fly out to Windhoek on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n

Team SA Basketball Squad<\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls: <\/strong>Jodi Stemmet, Bokang Lefakane, Mamello Nalenyane, Lethuxolo Mphaki, Aphelele Zulu, Amile Qavane, Saskia Johnson, Bogolo Koikoi, Kananelo Moloi, Kayleigh Sardien, Neo Rametse, Tintswalo Siwele.<\/p>\n

Coaches\/Management<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thesline Davids, Siphiwe Chitlango, Queen Ndlovu.<\/p>\n

Boys: <\/strong>Thabo Maratola, Rehaan Allie, Reza Creamer, Simuthandile Radebe, Mpilenhle Sithole, Litha Madinda, Bhekwa Khwela, Redirile Makgoro, Mnqobi Mhlongo, Lesedi Ntlhokwa, Alexander Papadimas, Mahluli Ilunga.<\/p>\n

Coaches\/management<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sbusiso Williams, Tshepo Ntwagae, Mokhethi Khoantle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The South African u16 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams are part of a large contingent of 198 athletes selected to represent Team South Africa (SA) at the forthcoming 11th Region 5 Youth Games, which take place in Namibia from 4 July to 13 July. The Region 5 Youth Games, an initiative of the African Union […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":76190,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=76183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76183\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/76190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=76183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=76183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=76183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}