Two young athletes from Joza have taken their future into their own hands by dreaming big: to qualify for their national basketball team.
Dinilesizwe “Sik” Madikwa and Sonwabile “Sauce” Lwama have been playing basketball most of their lives. In 2002, Madikwa qualified for the Eastern Cape provincial side and has been playing for the team ever since.
Two young athletes from Joza have taken their future into their own hands by dreaming big: to qualify for their national basketball team.
Dinilesizwe “Sik” Madikwa and Sonwabile “Sauce” Lwama have been playing basketball most of their lives. In 2002, Madikwa qualified for the Eastern Cape provincial side and has been playing for the team ever since.
In 2003, Lwama joined him and, they have never looked back. This year, the two have already made it past the initial qualifying rounds for the Eastern Cape team and only have to secure their position in the final try-outs.
This will see them make the team for the inter-provincial tournament in December. But, this is not where it ends. Madikwa and Lwama both aspire to qualify for the South African national team.
Unfortunately, there are obstacles in their path, that appear increasingly insurmountable. Without financing, these ambitious young men cannot afford to make the journey to Johannesburg to try out.
Like many others from their neighbourhood, they’ve been wearing the same basketball shoes for a few seasons. “It’s always been about financials,” says Lwama.
While this has certainly put a dampener on their plans, it has not deterred them from continuing to believe that one day, they will make it.
Lwama is currently studying Information Technology and Computer Science at EastCape Midlands College while Madikwa works at the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
He is an assistant and he coaches sports to learners at Makana Primary School. While their days are filled with other activities, in the early evenings they are dedicated to only one activity: training.
On most days they train where the public viewing area (PVA) used to be, next to Miki Yili stadium. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they join the Rhodes University basketball club at Alec Mullins Hall on the Rhodes campus.
Today is no different and Madikwa sits fidgeting, anxious to continue his practice. They follow this regime religiouslyand when they are not doing it, they’re thinking about it.
It seems tough but they are reassuringly fit, not pausing for breath after their rigorous warm up. “It’s only hard work,” says Madikwa playfully.
The reality is: basketball is their life. Without adequate sponsorship however, perhaps this dream of theirs may be a little out of reach.
