Michelle Moganedi represents Africa at the IWBF Players’ Commission

South African wheelchair basketball star, Michelle Moganedi

The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Players’ Commission recently held its inaugural meeting at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland, where Sasol Wheelchair Basketball woman player, Michelle Moganedi represented Africa.

The IWBF Players’ Commission is a forum where wheelchair basketball players worldwide are the voice of governance of global wheelchair basketball, to educate and inform the public about the sport.

Michelle Moganedi (21), an engineering student at the University of Johannesburg, was elected by her peers at Wheelchair Basketball South Africa (WBSA) to be one of the representatives. The commission’s composition is equal across all four Zones – Africa, Americas, Asia Oceania and Europe – with two players per Zone, one male, one female, and no more than one representative per country.

Michelle was born in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, and her family later moved to Johannesburg. She fell in love with wheelchair basketball in 2019, and this year, she was selected to be a part of the Senior Women’s National Team.

Michelle expressed her journey to playing wheelchair basketball. “While I was still able-bodied, I used to play football and dreamed of playing for Banyana Banyana and also being a Doctor. Unfortunately, my dream came to a halt when I fell and injured my spine. However, I didn’t let my accident derail my goal of representing South Africa on a national level.

Michelle continued to express her excitement about being part of the IWBF Players’ Commission ”I am honoured to be part of the IWBF Players’ Commission. This forum will allow my peers and me to educate the world about wheelchair basketball and the challenges we face as sportsmen and women with disabilities.

Nozipho Mbatha, Sasol Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorship, expressed her contentment about Michelle being part of the IWBF Players’ Commission.

“We are proud about Michelle being elected to be a part of the commission where she and the other members will be able to create the conversations around wheelchair basketball and other sports for people with disabilities.

Gerry Smith Director, High Performance & Coaching at WBSA and IWBF Africa Secretary-General stated: “Wheelchair Basketball South Africa is very proud of Michelle’s achievement – being included in the first-ever international player’s commission. The work the Players Commission will embark on is very important to the IWBF and the Wheelchair Basketball community, and to have Michelle be part of this is of great significance to WBSA. Michelle’s journey in Wheelchair Basketball has only just begun, but she has a bright future in the sport, both on and off the court and we look forward to supporting her all the way”

“Sasol is pleased to see the impact of our longstanding partnership with WBSA to give differently abled sports people a platform to showcase their talent and skills by participating in competitive wheelchair basketball tournaments including such forums.  We wish her all the best in her new role, and we know that she will represent the IWBF organisation to the best of her ability,” Mbatha concludes.