The Limpopo Wheelchair Basketball Association aims to start a league in the province to develop players from the province for the national team, and is in the need of resources. The league started in April of this year (2025) with only four teams and one playing kit.
Pfariso Rakonanani, marketing manager and media officer for the Limpopo Wheelchair Basketball Associations, was the catapult for the initiative.
“The love of basketball started at my young age at Tshilidzini Special School,” Pfariso shared. His passion for the sport continue until he went to study at college. “I wanted to continue to be involved in sports. When I phoned my former from Tshilidzini special school, we then decided to form a district basketball team to keep all unemployed people with disabilities out of the street.”
He notes that sport is crucial for people with disabilities, especially those in rural areas.
“Their lives depend on exercise to keep their blood running so that they don’t add another disability within their body. Most of them stay in the rural areas with lack of physiotherapist accessibilities and affordability.”
The ultimate goal is to win national games and produce stars for the national team. However, before that, the league requires crucial resources include:
- Financial support to run training camps;
- Team uniforms;
- Sport wheelchairs for the team to play in;
- A Morten Ball (currently an old, non-regulation basketball is being used);
- Proper, portable basketball poles; and
- Scoreboard.
“We work with municipalities and departments to help us with logistics and people can join clubs within their municipalities. Basketball is a beautiful sport that includes everyone who has strength to push a wheelchair,” Pfariso shares.
For more information, to get involved or to donate, reach out to Pfariso at pfarisorakonanani@gmail.com.
