11 Jan 2024

Platinum Warriors Basketball team will host a pre-season tournament at the SSKB courts in Mogoditsane on Saturday.

Though the games are pre-season with only bragging rights at stake, rivalry is to be re-lived in many facets as the games have attracted some crème de la creme of basketball in the likes of BDF V, Police V, Elite Academy and Dynamites Women.

Themed; Mental Health for Athletes, the tournament also aims to promote physical and mental wellbeing within the sports community.

Speaking in an interview, Warriors’ public relations officer, Baone Ramokone said the tournament catered for both females and males teams and promised not only exciting basketball matches but also engaging discussions and activities centered on mental health awareness for athletes.

“The pursuit for excellence is not just about winning games but rather also about the nurturing of resilient minds since we are of the view that fostering a supportive and understanding environment is crucial for the overall well-being of all players,” she said.

Ramokone said it had been observed that in the world of sports, in order to remain at the peak of their performance and health, athletes often overlooked their mental health.

This, she said was a serious issue as it made athletes vulnerable to depression, anxiety and associated problems, which could have serious repercussions.

Ramokone noted that the tournament intended to ease the pressure associated with performing at the highest level.

“Athletes often face immense pressure to perform and are frequently under the microscope, with every move scrutinised, every mistake magnified and every performance evaluated both from themselves and others which can take a toll on their mental health over time,” she said.

Thus, she said it was through these tournaments that athletes would fully be equipped to deal with the pressure that came with limelight.

Ramokone decried lack of sponsorships for most sporting codes adding that such crippled the growth and the professionalism of sports in the country.

She said the time was ripe for business entities to align themselves with sports, both for their own business growth as well as for sports talent nurturing. Ends