Malamulele Chill Shooters is making significant strides in spreading basketball in Mopani.
In the heart of Malamulele, the gospel of basketball is spreading like wildfire, and the game’s devoted disciples are following en masse…
Malamulele Chill Shooters has entrenched the celebrated traditions of the revered American sport with immense intensity in the neighbourhood.
In this neck of the hood, basketball has become a way of life among the young generation.
Chill Shooters management has broadened the game’s popularity to schoolyards, targeting nearby primary and secondary schools for mass participation.
Coach Matimba Maimela says basketball has always been part of the sporting heritage in Malamulele and they want to popularise the game in Mopani district.
“When the team was established some years ago, the aim was to ensure that we get as many players as possible from different age groups, especially young kids as possible. We targeted local schools because that’s where mass participation is easily accessible. The recruitment drive worked perfectly and scores of schoolchildren came to the court,” Maimela recalls.
Maimela has described the 2026 season as a rollercoaster era of ups and downs.
“It was a truly phenomenal era after featuring in major tournaments in the province. We have just returned from an exciting competition in the U/18 boys category held in Bungeni village under the auspices of Vhembe District Basketball. We played against great opponents like Giyani Vikings, Classics, Bungeni, Mbokota and Vleifontein Vortex. We obtained position and received bronze medals. This position reaffirms our status that we are still among the best in the region, the province and beyond,” he says.
Chill Shooters are now pondering their way to Lephalale where they are billed to participate in the Winter Heat Tournament hosted by Limpopo Basketball Association, the provincial governing body.
Maimela says they are taking their strongest team in the U/18 and senior divisions.
The Mopani-based outfit will descend to Waterberg brimming with confidence after winning the 2026 edition of the Youth Cup on home turf.
“We had a successful event featuring youngsters in the U/12, U/14 and U/18 age groups in both the boys’ and girls’ categories. The event featured Polokwane Basketball Academy, Seshego Basketball Academy, Capricorn high school, Magangeni high school, Xihlovo high school, Solomondale Peaces and Super Elite Basketball. Chill shooters managed to win the tournament in all age groups”, says Maimela. The event in Waterberg will be played on July 25