NAME: MPHO URSULA
SURNAME: MASHEGO
AGE: 28
Oh wow where do Istart? Thank you so much for this opportunity.
My name is Mpho Ursula Mashego from Limpopo, Seshego Zone 1. I m currently working for
JoburgToday.tv as a manager, producer, reporter, production coordinator, researcher and show
scheduler online. I also play for V&J Ladies Basketball team who have recently won 2
championships this year Ashraf Tournament, ICSL league and defending our Swaziland
Invitational International Tournament Champions on the 24th-27th of June 2016.
I have a strong background in Media, armedwith a Diploma of Journalism from Rosebank
College and years of experience in the media industry, working for leading papers: The Citizen,
The New Age, SEDA Limpopo, Zkhiphani.com magazine and I m also part of the Gauteng
Women s Basketball board and Marketing and Communications Manager for V &J Womens Basketball Team.
How it all started:
I wasn t really a sports person. I waslazy and I wastoo much of a girlie girl. When I went to
grade 6 at a different school, Letlolo Primary School my primary school teacher Mrs Mamabolo
introduced me to netball. I had the height and the energy to play but I wasn t interested
because I feltthat it will take my time. I was 11 years atthe time and still new at the school and
we were basically forced to play sports whether we liked it or not. My first week at netball was
epic. I enjoyed playing around and shooting. I didn t see it as a form of excising but a place for
me to work hard on my game and be the best in it. After the two weeks of netball the same
teacher called me up to play forthe Limpopo Basketball Provincial Team. Which wastoo much
for me considering the fact that I ve never played basketball in my life. But because I love to
challenge myself I decided to join the team and train with them for a week. That was pretty
much my first weekof playing basketball and we wentto play inter-provincial games and we
won. That was my firsttaste of a goldmedal. The feeling was unexplainable still is even now but
since then I never looked back. It wasn t hard for me to find my feetin basketball or even
fitness levels because I ll be called in to play soccer, netball and basketball at school throughout
primary. Then high school happened which is a differentleague, I continued playing netball and
basketball which gave me a platform to be a leader as the captain of my school – basketball
team and also my club team Seshego Sonics. I played with Seshego Sonicsfromprimary to
tertiary and through playing for the club I learned how to be disciplined, humble, I learned the
meaning of teamwork and gift ofsharing. The club wasn t just a club but my home away from
home, as I had brothers and sisters who guided me
My journey:
Basketball for me was my life. However, living in Limpopo and promoting basketball around
1999 and 2000 wasn t ideal because a lot of people always thought it was more of an American
sport. 90% of the time I had to pay to go to gamesin different provinces. We used to pay a fee
and worse of all attimesI wouldn t have the money to go attend those games. I lived with
grandma and my cousins in the same house so I was always cautious of the money looking at
my background situation. It wasn t easy trying to convince my late grandma to help me. We
didn t have sponsorships(the club still doesn t have)I had to use my grandma s pension money
to survive and go to basketball games. The mere fact that you are a young girl passionate about
sport and couldn t afford basic needs made me want to quit the sport. It was heartbreaking to
see people affording certain things while you couldn t afford. I remember one incident: on a
hot day in the rural area of Limpopo, we were playing against Koloti Knicks and some of the
young ladies didn t have sneakers my coach called a time- out and asked the whole team to
take off their shoes. It was painful, I was hurt, I had blisters and was bleeding but that taught
me humility and to be grateful for what I have. It doesn t matter how big or small. The pain
endured through this made me wantto work hard, I never share my stories and I hide my pain
very well. Basketball saved me from a lot of things as a teen and it helped me to explore my
beautiful country. I will travel to all the different parts of the provincesthrough basketball. It
prevented me from othersthings, such as alcohol abuse, drugs etc. I was devoted to play, my
weekdays and weekends were pre-occupied by school and sports. That isstill basically my life-
ball.
CHALLENGES: Gender equality.
– With playing basketball as a women you are constantly reminded that women s
basketball in South Africa isn t going anywhere by coaches, basketball developers – in
that case its 90% male dominated who talk aboutthe development of women s
basketball on social media but degrade women on and off the court.
– I m always seen as a women . I m categorized to be voice-less and being emotional.
– Politics:this makes me so angry. Ithink politicians should stick to politics and let people
who love sports take control. Politics are killing the sport
ADVICE:
Don t do thingsto be seen. Work hard and let your workdo the talking. Don t be bullied by
anyone, believe in yourself and push your vision. As women in the sports fraternity I ve learned
to be strong and stand my ground. Lastly, my vision isto see women having their professional
league – South African Women s Basketball National League National League
