2. The Cape Town Tigers In The Valley : A legacy beyond basketball

Feb 13, 2023

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"It's more than basketball, it's about legacy"

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast bridging the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle in Africa. Listen to the full episode at https://silverbacksvalley.com

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Established in 2020, the Cape Town Tigers are South Africa's basketball champions. They qualified for the first season of the Basketball Africa League, and made it up to the first round of the playoffs in the second season in 2022. In 2023, the team welcomed the afrobeats music mogul Mr Eazi as an investor, former LA Lakers assistant coach Rasheed Hazzard as head coach and NBA G-League guard Zaire Wade in its roster. The Tigers are set to compete for the third Season of the BAL, Silverbacks Valley brings you their origin story with co-founders Chante Butler, Dia Martin, William "BJ" McFarlan and Raphael Alexander Edwards.

5 IDEAS DISCUSSED WITH THE CAPE TOWN TIGERS IN THE VALLEY

1. Why not present an opportunity for us all to do something big"

The Cape Town Tigers co-founders look back on the friendship and former high school rivalry that led to the unexpected pairing of two African-American women with two former basketball players.

2. "From a PowerPoint to a championship"

Bringing a new team to a championship title is not an easy task : the Cape Town Tigers did it twice. The co-founders dwell on what made their team successful, and why building the organization from the ground up was a key element of that recipe. They reveal their vision of sports business and why education as well as social responsibility are as relevant to them as other elements of the business such as fan engagement or merchandising.

3. "As a black woman, owning a team wasn't on my map"

In Africa's sports landscape, the Cape Town Tigers are an outlier : the organization is co-owned and co-managed by two women. Chante Butler and Dia Martin recount how they seized the opportunity when it presented itself. They also reflect on building a legacy for women in sports and how they hope to inspire other women to take risks and testing their limits.

4. "We are uniquely positioned to become a global brand"

The Cape Town Tigers dream big, and they dream beyond basketball. The co-founders reflect upon their unique position as a team playing in the Basketball Africa League that has the ability to play on different geographies. They also speak on the role that culture plays in building the Tigers as Africa's basketball powerhouse and why the franchise can be used as a vessel to connect the greater black diaspora and community.

5. "It's about creating a legacy"

The Cape Town Tigers share their inspirations and how their respective families as well as the family they became through entrepreneurship fuels their motivation. They also reveal their aspirations for the blueprint they are establishing for sports business as well as for the next generation of black and African entrepreneurs.