The energy was palpable on Thursday, 17 July at the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum as South Africa stepped onto the court to compete in men’s 3×3 basketball at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.
The country is one of only two African nations to take part in the inaugural FISU Games 3×3 hoops competition – alongside Egypt – and the only one with entries in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
This isn’t just a new chapter for South African university basketball; it’s a powerful statement about Africa’s budding presence in global student sports.
In a nation where rugby and soccer traditionally dominate the sporting landscape, the qualification and participation of the South African basketball teams is a testament to genuine efforts being made to diversify sports development. It highlights a commitment to creating more opportunities for talented young student-athletes to shine on the international stage.
Despite the monumental achievement, the men’s squad faces an uphill battle, especially against seasoned competitors. “People don’t expect much from African countries,” admitted head coach Thanda Kweyama, a sentiment rooted in the reality that regular, high-level competition can be scarce.
The journey to Germany itself presented a significant hurdle. Traveling 8,728 kilometers across continents and arriving just two days before their opening game left the South African men vulnerable to the classic challenges of jet lag and time zone changes.
These factors likely contributed to their opening loss against Lithuania, by a 21-13 score, which was followed by a 21-11 defeat at the hands of Poland. Yet, with eyes firmly on its next contest, a play-in game on Saturday, 19 July, the team remains hopeful and is ready to turn historical participation into competitive progress.
On the women’s side, South Africa makes its Games debut on Friday against the United States and Poland.
Townsend powers USA to opening victory
In other electrifying men’s action at the Bochum venue, Nicholas Townsend proved why he’s considered a rare gem in U.S. college basketball, delivering two outstanding performances to hand Team USA a 21-9 opening victory against Chile, followed by a 19-12 win over Italy.
The Yale captain and psychology student was a force on the court, scoring 19 points in two games to lead the charge. Already earning recognition, Townsend’s prowess was undeniable. His teammate, Avery Mack Brown, added to the dynamic display, bringing relentless energy with his blistering speed and dazzling dribbling skills that consistently drew cheers from the crowd.
Brown, who famously listens to rap and even produces his own music as part of his pre-match routine, embodies the unique blend of talent and personality at the FISU Games.
Townsend, Brown and Team USA are now looking ahead to tougher matchups as the tournament progresses, aiming to build on this powerful momentum and dominate their way into the knockout rounds.
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games runs from July 16 – 27. Don’t miss any of the action! Watch all the competitions live on fisu.tv. Click on the link to find the full schedule.
Written by Jagunna, Iretomiwa Ilerioluwa, FISU Young Reporter, Nigeria
The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.
We warmly thank FISU Official Partner Qiaodan Ltd. which provides remarkable uniforms to FISU Family and International Technical Officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continued to provide its support during the postponement of events due to the global pandemic, and recently extended the relationship with FISU up to and including 2025.