The Cape Town Tigers Basketball Club will fly the South African flag in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), starting in Joburg on Friday.
Twenty-six teams will compete in six groups in the first round qualifications, which will be held on 19-31 October in four African cities, namely Conakry (Guinea), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Yaounde (Cameroon).
The Tigers earned a spot in Division East Group F after being crowned the SA national champions last Wednesday.
And they are now set to compete against Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique), Matero Magic, (Zambia), Mercenaries (Zimbabwe) and Roche Bois Warriors (Mauritius).
The Kaapse club is based in Gugulethu and practises at the Gugulethu Sport Complex and the Lotus River Sport Centre.
The Tigers are Raphael Edwards, the founder and coach, Brandon Ingram, Allen Houston, Ty Lawson, Elton Brand, Jerry Stackhouse.
Raphael says it’s an amazing opportunity for them.
“It felt amazing, it is rare for a young team like ours to make it this far,” he says.
“This is a huge opportunity for us. We are carrying the city and South Africa on our shoulders and we are going to go there play the Tiger style – a beautiful, simple basketball and hopefully bring the title home.”
He says their formula for success is “chemistry and loyalty”. They train twice a week and support each other to reach their best.
However, Raphael wishes the Tigers would receive support, so the sport could grow and be recognised at local and national level, to attract the youth.
“It is embarrassing to say we are not getting any support, not even from our government,” he says.
“There are only three people behind us, and I wouldn’t name them now but we really appreciate their support.
“I am not talking about fans here but the people who ensure things happen, people who support the team.”
Egypt’s Zamalek won the first edition of the BAL, which falls under world governing body FIBA, the International Basketball Federation.