From Hoops to Hope: Thandeka’s Story

April 20, 2025

For Thandeka, basketball was never just a game—it was a community, and ultimately, a lifeline.

Thandeka first found PeacePlayers in Primary school and fell in love. “Sport helped me boost my self-esteem, be confident and work with other people as a team,” Thandela shares. Basketball at PeacePlayers wasn’t just a game – it was a gateway to venture out of her community of Umlazi, and to meet people from communities from all over Durban. But what really kept Thandeka coming back year after year were the mentors, the coaches who saw her potential and supported her, even when times were tough. And times were tough a lot for Thandeka.

Growing up in Umlazi required a lot of resilience. A community battling high rates of HIV, unemployment and general hopelessness, it wasn’t always easy to find the path to opportunity. On a more personal level, Thandeka’s mother raised her and her five siblings on her own. She struggled to find steady employment, and Thandela’s family fought to stay above water. When Thandeka became a mother herself at 17, her world shrank. Her mother insisted Thandeka’s place was at home. The court, the game, the friendships—they all seemed like distant memories.

But the PeacePlayers coaches refused to let her disappear. They showed up at her door, reminding her that – whether she was on the court or at home – they were there for her. They kept Thandeka motivated, kept her believing in herself. And that made all the difference.

Thandeka pushed forward. She returned to school to finish her high school matriculation exams. But she didn’t stop there. After finishing high school, Thandeka went on to earn a degree in sociology and criminology. At that point, she could have chosen any path. But Thandeka chose to return to where it all began – PeacePlayers. First, as a volunteer, then as a coach, and now as an area coordinator for her community of Umlazi, where she trains the next generation of players and mentors. Her story spread throughout the community—Thandeka, the girl who faced every obstacle yet stood tall. She wasn’t just coaching; she was inspiring.

Beyond PeacePlayers, Thadeka broke new ground. She began coaching girls in some of the most affluent schools in Durban, leading a provincial (regional league) under-18 team to the championship in her first year. Now, she’s training to become a FIBA official, taking her love for the game to new heights.

For Thadeka, these accomplishments weren’t just private victories, they were victories for girls across Umlazi. She knows that basketball alone won’t change the world—but the hope, discipline, and connection it fosters just might. “As long as we’re still living in a conflicted country. As long as we still have kids who are going through terrible things, who are coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. That will keep me motivated to do my job.”

Want to learn more about Thandeka and what makes her an amazing coach? Check out the first episode of PeacePlayers South Africa’s amazing new podcast Beyond the Court.