Rising star: At A tender age, the Seshego Sonics star point guard Makwena Ramoroka is promising to take the basketball world by storm.
A sporting legend is born and ready to take the basketball world by storm…
Maphuti Ramoroka is one of the talking points at junior basketball events these days.
A teenage prodigy, the Seshego Sonics’ rising star point guard is already showing symptoms of a great sportsmanship.
Looking at his family lineage of great softball players, the young boy from Zone 1 might seem an outcast – in sporting terms, of course – but he insists that he is merely breaking the monotony in the household.
The son of Sewela Ramoroka, he comes from a family unit that comprises uncles, William “Wiza” Ramoroka and younger brother Marcus who have once dazzled fans in their heydays as softball powerhouses.
It is quite ironic that a toddler who was carried on her mother’s back to softball events, subconsciously so, would branch away to pursue a career in basketball.
The Ramoroka house, overlooking the Seshego sports complex, was at some stage the clubhouse of local giants, Cannons and softball was the official language during meals and small family talks.
How this addition to the family chose basketball over softball, is beyond comprehension.
When asked why he chose the Slam Dunk game over the traditional Ball Game his entire family best epitomised, Makwena nonetheless shrugged his tiny shoulders and explained that: “I wasn’t even aware that I was carried to softball matches as a baby. All I know is that everyone in the family was the embodiment of this game called softball. I am told that my uncles were some of the greatest players in the province. I am also aware that both my grandparents were ardent followers of the game. However, I broke this softball monotony in the family and followed a different dream. I hope they understand my choice and support me in my sporting endeavour.”
Makwena, a heartbeat from his home and the basketball courts where hones his skills, reckons he will go far with his sporting code of choice, citing the level of coaching depth at Sonics.
He is currently under the tutelage of renowned and well-travelled Gazani “Lebhani” Khoza, the man who has since revolutionised basketball in Seshego.
“I’m being well looked after at club level. Under the watchful guidance of Gazani, together with some of the youngsters, I have learnt so many techniques of the modern game” said Ramoroka.