Mthiyane aims to make basketball every South African person's game

GAUTENG - South Africa's encouraging performance at AfroBasket Women 2015 has prompted acting President of Basketball South Africa (BSA) Sanele Mthiyane to build on new programmes as a way to boost the sport's growth in the country.

BSA was named the country's 2015 National Federation of the Year, and Mthiyane, who served as its Vice President under then President Graham Abrahams, is looking to "make basketball every South African's game".

In a statement sent to FIBA.com, BSA said: "His [Mthiyane's] leadership will provide an opportunity for the National Executive Committee to continue rebuilding the organisation through building active provincial associations, sustain relations with national government, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and international stakeholders.

"Our international focus will be on the preparation for the U18 Boys and Girls qualifiers, setting up a Coaching Commission to advance national coaching programmes and focus on Women Basketball programmes."

Sanele Mthiyane (RSA)

As for the future of basketball in the country, BSA has a four-year cycle (2015-2019) Strategic Plan which outlines the implementation, monitoring and target areas.

As well as working with the Basketball National League (BNL) - which is a vehicle for the growth of their elite athletes - the sport's national governing body looks to continue working with provincial associations to strengthen their programmes with specific focus on formation of leagues, high performance programmes for athletes, coaches and administrators.

BSA also has high hopes that basketball's 3x3 discipline can help it soar to new heights.

"We shall be launching a 3x3 programme in provinces with a National Championships set every summer," the statement read.

FIBA