The South African Senior Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team saw off the challenge from a physically strong French All Stars team, to record a 53-48 victory in the third of four Sasol All Star Series Test Matches, played at Mandeville, near Johannesburg on Sunday 27^th July.

This was the Sasol AmaWheelaBoys’ third triumph over the French invitation side in as many matches, following thrilling wins at the same venue on Friday and Saturday. The home side was ahead 10-6 after the first quarter, and held a 21-20 lead at half-time before going into the three quarter time break 33-29 in front.

Sasol AmaWheelaBoys head coach kept to his promise of giving the young players in the team as much game time as possible, and rested team captain Cecil Dumond and vice- captain Luvuyo Mbande for the third Test.

Bloemfontein-based Kyle Louw took over the captaincy of the hosts for the day and continued to be a handful on the court for the French, with his committed approach and speed. While Paralympian Richard Nortje once again showed his class up front for the home side, KwaZulu-Natal’s 18-year-old Thabane Tshange blunted many French raids, while on defensive duty for the South Africans.

“The French All Stars team may not be a fully-fledged French national team, but our Sasol AmaWheelaBoys side proved that he have the skill to take on and beat European sides, particularly when one keeps in mind that the French All Stars unit beat SA by between 15 and 20 goals in the matches played in the Sasol All Star Series here last year,” said national team star Jaco van Niekerk.

“Wheelchair Basketball SA and Sasol did a great job in bringing former French international head coach Franck Belen to develop the sport of wheelchair basketball in SA, and we are starting to see the fruits of his knowledge.”

The fourth and final Test between the two teams will take place at Mandeville on Friday, August 1, starting at 19h00.

Sasol All Star AmaWheelaBoys team: Tucker Beckett, Kyle Louw, Xolani Shabane, Cecil Dumond, Lisolomsi Mazantsana, Gift Mooketsi, Jaco Van Niekerk, Steven Walgenbach, KB Nkoana, Luvuyo Mbende, Shane Williams, Ike Monti, Simanga Mbhele, Thabane Tshange, Richard Nortje, Jaco Velloen.