MBB Basketball

The team was founded as a social club in 2010 by a group of players who had moved from KwaZulu-Natal to Johannesburg, Gauteng.{{Cite web |title=MMB (SOUTH AFRICA) |url=https://bal.nba.com/teams/mmb-south-africa |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=The BAL |language=en}} The team has been owned by former player Cyril Shabalala, who later also took reigns as head coach.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Meet the team: MBB |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-africa-champions-clubs-road-to-bal-2025/news/meet-the-team-mbb |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.fiba.basketball |language=en}}

Although the team had been in existence informally, MBB started playing competitively for the first tiem when it joined the Gauteng regional Inner City Super League (ICSL) in 2023. They went on to win back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.{{Cite web |title=ICSL – Inner City Super League |url=https://icsl.co.za/icsl/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=icsl.co.za}} The Blue Soldiers joined the Basketball National League (NBL) for the 2024 season,{{Cite Instagram |postid=C8Xfn4rNoVW |user=bnlsa |title=We're thrilled to share the revised 2024 BNL fixture with you! Note that Cape Town Tigers are excluded, and EC Windbreakers have been relegated. Stay tuned for more updates and let the games begin! |author=Basketball National League |date=2024-06-14}} and later also won the BSA-organised National Championship title.{{Cite web |title=FIBA Africa Zone 6 Weekly Review: 20/08/2024 {{!}} AfricaBasket |url=https://www.africabasket.net/articles/fiba-africa-zone-6-weekly-review-19-08-2024 |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=www.africabasket.net}}

Their national championship title earned them the right to play in the 2025 BAL qualification, where they will make their debut in the Elite 16 phase, becoming the third South African team in the Road to BAL, behind the Jozi Nuggets and the Cape Town Tigers.

On January 12, 2025, MBB announced on Instagram that they would play in the 2025 season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).{{Cite Instagram |postid=DEts1QztkFO |user=mbb_basketball |title=MBB at BAL 2025! We have a lot of work to do and are beyond ready to put in all that work. Proud to be representing South Africa this season. It's going to be a good year. Let's do this! |author=MBB Basketball |date=2025-01-12}} On February 4, 2025, MBB announced Sam Vincent as their new head coach.{{Cite Instagram |postid=DFo7U97Ndlm/ |user=mbb_basketball |title=MBB welcomes Sam Vincent! Sam Vincent, a former NBA champion and well established international coach with incredible impact over many years, is joining Team MBB as head coach for BAL Season 5! Sam has a deep love for our country and continent, and is ready to bring his invaluable experience and passion for the game to our players and team. GHIV US Everything you've got Coach! Let's go! #iTeamYaseDladleni #GHIVUS #MadeByBall |author=MBB Basketball |date=2025-02-04}} Their participation was confirmed on 28 February 2025. On May 20, 2025, MBB won its first ever BAL game, defeating Nairobi City Thunder.{{Cite web |title=Opong’s last-gasp three-pointer sinks the Thunder |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/opongs-last-gasp-three-pointer-sinks-the-thunder |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=The BAL |language=en}} The Blue Soldeirs were eliminated in the last round, and finished with a 2–4 record.

The team uses the slogan ‘iTeam Yase Dladleni’, which roughly translates to "The People's Team".

• South African National Basketball Championship (1): 2024
• Inner City Super League (2): 2023, 2024

{{Basketball roster nationality note}}

{{Basketball roster header | wt = n

| team = MBB

| season = 2025

| color1 = | bg1 = | color2 = | bg2 =

}}

{{Player3 | num = 1 | nat = ZIM | first = Dyvonne | last = Pfachi | pos = PG | m = 1.89 | kgs = | year = 1995 | month = 2 | date = 9 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 2 | nat = RSA | first = Nino | last = Dim | pos = PG/SG | m = 1.97 | kgs = | year = 2000 | month = 11 | date = 6 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 5 | nat = UGA | first = Robinson | last = Opong | pos = SG | m = 1.91 | kgs = | year = 1989 | month = 5 | date = 10 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 6 | nat = USA | first = Teafale | last = Lenard | pos = SF | m = 2.03 | kgs = | year = 2002 | month = 7 | date = 21 | note = I }}

{{Player3 | num = 10 | nat = RSA | first = Lebesa | last = Selepe | pos = SG/SF | m = 1.90 | kgs = | year = 1991 | month = 3 | date = 13 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 12 | nat = RSA | first = Neo | last = Mothiba | pos = SF | m = 2.00 | kgs = | year = 1982 | month = 3 | date = 21 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 13 | nat =GAM | first = Omar | last = Thielemans | pos = SF/PF | m = 2.03 | kgs = | year = 1999 | month = 09 | date =23 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 14 | nat = RSA | first = Nkosinathi | last = Sibanyoni | pos = PF/C | m = 2.08 | kgs = | year = 1998 | month = 5 | date = 24 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 15 | nat = SEN | first = Mouhamed | last = Camara | pos = SF | m = 2.05 | kgs = | year = 2005 | month = 4 | date = 1 | note = E }}

{{Player3 | num = 23 | nat = RSA | first = Marcus | last = Mokwena | pos = C | m = 1.98 | kgs = | year = 1991 | month = 12 | date = 4 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 41 | nat = RSA | first = Pieter | last = Prinsloo | pos = PF | m = 2.08 | kgs = | year = 1992 | month = 1 | date = 7 | note = }}

{{Player3 | num = 45 | nat = USA | first = Jovan | last = Mooring | pos = PG | m = 1.88 | kgs = | year = 1994 | month = 12 | date = 14 | note = I }}

{{Player3 | num = 50 | nat = RSA | first = David | last = Craig | dab = basketball | pos = C | m = 2.18 | kgs = | year = 2003 | month = 7 | date = 13 | note = }}

{{Basketball roster footer

| head_coach =

• {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Vincent

| asst_coach =

• {{flagicon|USA}} Dean Murray
• {{flagicon|RSA}} Lindokuhle Sibankulu

| roster_url = https://bal.nba.com/teams/mbb-south-africa?view=roster

| accessdate = May 21, 2025

| note_E= BAL Elevate player

}}

• Cyril Shabalala: (–2025)
• Sam Vincent: (2025–present)

{{Basketball Africa League}}{{Basketball National League}}

Category:Basketball teams in South Africa

Category:Sport in Johannesburg

Category:Road to BAL teams

Category:Basketball Africa League teams

Category:Basketball teams established in 2010

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