CHINA CHIMES WITH CHIBI

BY PHIRI CAWE

IT WAS CRAZY TO THINK WE WERE BASICALLY THE ONLY TEAM THAT DIDN’T HAVE PLAYERS THAT COMPETE IN A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE OF SOME SORT.

UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (UWC) basketball player Nkosinathi Chibi was overjoyed to represent South Africa at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games in Chengdu, China, in July and August.

Chibi, with Gianno Peddy (athletics), Robyn Phillips (physiotherapist), Kayla Richards (chief medical officer), Thabiso Letselebe (University Sport South Africa media and communications head) and Sikhulule Nkomphela (Team SA media liaison), formed part of the UWC contingent at this year’s Games.

HE SAYS HE WILL NOT EASILY FORGET THE EXPERIENCE. “The trip was very fruitful, from the basketball experiences to the cultural experiences,” he says. “The treatment we enjoyed as players was top class. We were treated as professionals. Recovery was amazing. Facilities were amazing.”

THE 25-YEAR-OLD POINT GUARD is delighted to have represented his country on the international stage but says the journey was not easy, because while basketball is growing steadily in South Africa, its development trails many other countries.

“IT WAS CRAZY TO THINK we were basically the only team that didn’t have players that compete in a professional league of some sort,” he says. “But the venues were amazing and we played in soldout arenas in every single game in front of thousands and thousands of spectators. The talent was world class, consisting of players from the EuroLeague, the Chinese Basketball Association, the National Basketball Association G League in the US, the International Basketball Association Europe Cup and more.”

SOUTH AFRICA LOST ITS POOL GAMES against Argentina, Mongolia and Romania, but for a country that has been absent from the international stage, Chibi feels the team did well.

“Comparing the standard and the level from the international countries, we are far back. I would say we are four to five years back,” he says. “We would be matched with colleges there. They are professional in everything. All these countries have been competing all these years. We have not been on the world stage for 15 years.”

FROM AN INDIVIDUAL POINT OF VIEW, he says it is surreal to know he can compete with the best players in the world. Playing on the international stage was an unbeatable experience and he hopes it was not the last time. Asked what South Africa should do to reach international standard, he says it needs a better basketball structure and a serious approach to professionalism.

AS FOR VISITING CHINA, he says he was surprised by almost everything, including traffic lights, road signs and even the presence of a dedicated u-turn lane. He tried different foods, ranging from dumplings and teriyakistyle chicken to custard buns and more. “Everything was very tasty and enjoyable,” he says. “Even the street foods are crazy. They had octopus and squid that looked pretty insane.”