COLLEGE WELCOME
A very warm welcome to all players and coaches at the 18th St John’s College Basketball Tournament brought to you by MTN.
Basketball remains one of the fastest-growing sports in our country, and we are delighted to host this premier tournament that welcomes many of the finest teams as we give our young men the opportunity for some healthy competition. It is also wonderful to have our friends and families with us – whether you are joining us at the courts or watching the action live via the Super Sports School app.
As youth sports become increasingly competitive, we must consider the values and traditions of why we place and coach sports at this important youth level.
There are many valuable character-building lessons to be learned on the courts — passion, commitment, hard work, perseverance and dealing with success or disappointment graciously. We encourage our players to commit to good sportsmanship and fair play throughout the Tournament as we celebrate the new friendships made this weekend and engage in keen competition and healthy rivalry.
Tournaments of this nature would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. St John’s College is proud of our partnership with MTN, a brand that values the diverse sporting codes of our nation.
Thank you to Mr Clemen Kock, MIC Basketball, for his tireless work producing a tournament of this standard. A word of thanks also goes to the coaches and officials for their commitment and hard work. And, I would like to thank our support staff for preparing the facilities and our magnificent grounds and our medical staff and security personnel who have worked to ensure the safety of all.
The Parents’ Basketball Committee has worked incredibly hard in planning this event, and I would like to thank the Chairman of the Parents’ Basketball Committee, Mr Jameson Hlongwane and his team of parents for their enormous effort in supporting the tournament.
We wish the players, coaches, managers, officials, and spectators – at the courts or home – a terrific weekend of competitive basketball. We trust our boys will build many friendships, hone their skills, and compete keenly on the court.
Above all, enjoy yourselves.
Mr Stuart West
Executive Headmaster
St John’s College
MTN WELCOME
As a proudly South African company, MTN values the diverse sporting codes of our nation. We believe that sport has the power to unite as it brings people closer to their passion while creating exciting and memorable experiences.
The St John’s College Basketball Tournament aligns with this belief and contributes to the development of the sport, along with the talented players within South Africa and those across our borders in Zimbabwe and Eswatini.
We are delighted to be part of this special sporting event. Best wishes to all the players, and fun on the courts!
Charles Molapisi
MTN SA CEO
PREP WELCOME
I am pleased to welcome all you basketball enthusiasts to the U13 age-group category of the St John’s College Basketball Tournament brought to you by MTN.
We are thrilled to have you here, and we hope you will enjoy this showcase of talent, teamwork and sportsmanship.
My best wishes to every participant. May this be a memorable tournament for you and your team. Work hard and play straight.
I would also like to extend a special thank you to MTN, our sponsor, our volunteers and our parents for their support in making this tournament a great success. Your contributions are deeply appreciated.
Enjoy this exciting showcase of schoolboy basketball!
Lux Vita Caritas
Lester Lalla
Headmaster
St John’s Preparatory
MASTER-IN-CHARGE WELCOME
St John’s College celebrates 125 years of rich school history and 18 years of continued dedication to building basketball, a sport we love dearly, and to our annual tournament.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to all 54 Teams from 27 schools who will battle it out over 177 matches played across seven basketball courts over four days at our magnificent school, in the heart of Houghton.
We have put in so much effort to provide you with the best experience possible, and MTN, our headline partner, is committed to adding value to that experience.
We also count on each and every school to play its role in delivering a wonderful experience for all through the continued support, dedication and sportsmanship that you have shown over the years.
Thank you to the administrators for your work in getting your teams here. We appreciate all the work the coaches put in to prepare your teams. We are extremely grateful to all the parents for their support of the boys, to the technical officials for their expertise and craft, and last and most importantly, to the boys for creating such special moments on the courts. We can’t come together without you on the floor.
Clemen Kock
Master-in-Charge of Basketball
St John’s College
