South Africa scored a convincing 104-29 victory over Angola in the two countries’ first-ever international in the International Wheelchair Basketball Challenge at the Mandeville Indoor Centre on Friday.
It was the second heavy defeat for Angola in the competition, following their 72-40 defeat at the hands of local league outfit the Pumas on Thursday.
But the losses have done little to dampen Angola’s enthusiasm on their first international tour.
”This is the first time we have ever played international opposition, so we are here to learn and gain experience,” said team translator and former player Aderito Fernandes.
The Angolans have only been playing wheelchair basketball for eight years. For most of this time they played using normal wheelchairs.
”In 2003 the International Paralympic Committee donated some proper wheelchairs for us and that has made a big difference to the growth of the sport in Angola,” said Fernandes.
Polio and landmines are the biggest causes of disability in Angola. Several of the South African players suffered disability during the war with Angola, and Fernandes says his own players have found inspiration in the fact that two countries that were once enemies are now competing on the basketball court.
”In the past we were enemies and now we are friends. The South Africans invited us to compete in the International Wheelchair Basketball Challenge and we accepted because we know what a strong team they are. We want to improve and we are taking it step by step.”
The Angolans next play the South African Under-23 team on Saturday. — Sapa