NATIONAL NEWS - The North West Wheelchair Basketball team won a silver medal at a fiercely contested final of the Vodacom Wheelchair Basketball South African National Championships Challenge in Potchefstroom, the department of education and sports development said on Monday.

Spokesman Elias Malindi said North West lost 60 – 54 to Gauteng province at North West University, Potchefstroom Campus on Saturday.

“Unfortunately the North West team who are the two times champion of the Vodacom Wheelchair Basketball South Africa National Championships could not defend their title, as Gauteng province proved to be a strong opponent,” he said.

“The North West province who dominated the championships fell on the last lap of the tournament, sweat and blood of the players was all over the court. They became like soldiers who lost the battle in a war with their boots on their feet.”