Somusa “Moose” Mthembu is a South African professional Basketball player from KwaMashu in Kwa-Zulu Natal. He started playing basketball when he was around 7/8 years old but the real passion came in his late high school years. Staying focused and having that Mamba mentality, Moose has gone on to win 4 National Championships – 3 with Tswane Suns & 1 with Cape Town Tigers has multiple MVP awards and even toured with the National team – being known as the best post player in the country!
“Love what you do and do what you love” is the best way to describe Moose’s love for the game of Basketball. His devotion to the game doesn’t only end on the court but one of his dreams is to have his academy and build courts County-wide.
What is one word that would best describe what Basketball means to you…
“ Everything. I enjoy it and I think about it a lot. I learn something new from it almost every time I watch or play”.
At what age did you start playing basketball? And was being an athlete your initial goal or did you have other dreams?
“I started playing around the age of 7 or 8 years old but I only started taking it seriously in my final years of high school. Being an athlete was my initial goal. I don’t have any other dreams that aren’t tied/connected to basketball. I want to have an academy and build courts wherever I can find suitable land. I also want to model and do commercials like some of my favourite athletes growing up want and I want to create animations and digital art”.
Who inspired you to become a Professional Basketball player?
“Two people inspired me – The first one was a national team player by the name of ‘Linda Sibankuku’ from my neighbourhood (Kwa Mashu) who ignited my love for basketball. I wasn’t a fan of any other sport apart from athletics until I saw him and a few guys from the neighborhood bouncing a ball.
The second person was a female professional soccer player by the name of ‘Portia Modise’ she probably doesn’t even remember me but she and her team at the time came to play a tournament at the stadium close to my home. We’d always sneak in or would be snuck in by the security guards to meet or watch the players and that’s where I got to meet her. On the last day of the tournament, we couldn’t enter the stadium so we had to wait for the players outside of the entrance gate. I had a pen and a piece of paper that my parents had given me to get an autograph. Instead, she gave me her phone number and told me to call her the following Tuesday night, so I ran back home, told my whole family and waited for Tuesday. It became routine. I’d call her from the house phone or she’d call the house phone whenever she had free time. We lost touch after some time but those conversations made me want to be a professional athlete. She made me want to be a professional athlete”, says Moose.
You’ve won 4 National Championships, multiple MVP awards, and even toured with the National team; how would you describe the feeling of being known as the ‘best post player in the country?
“Frankly, I want to be the best player, period. Like any other hard-working competitor”.
During one of the qualifying matches for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) an NBA Africa-affiliated league, you sustained a severe injury that resulted in surgery. I’m sure that took a cognitive & physical toll on you but what has kept you grounded and motivated?
“What has always kept me grounded and motivated is my family, but I’ve dealt with quite a few injuries as an athlete so starting from scratch and relearning everything has become the go-to motivator for me. There’s always something new to learn in this sport so there’s always a goal to achieve,” he says.
How vigorous has the rehabilitation process been for you?
“Rehab is painful and it never gets any easier. The workouts get longer and additionally difficult as time passes but the results are worth all of that torture. I’m lucky to have had a great surgeon and physiotherapist”.
With the time you have off the court, what has become your favourite pass times or hobbies?
“Just spending time with my family. I don’t get that much time to visit or spend time with them when I’m working”.
You’re a proud #GirlDad how has it been balancing the two and the growth it’s brought into your life?
“It’s been difficult, to say the least but way more rewarding. My whole world revolves around that little girl now and I couldn’t be happier”.
How tall are you and is there anything at all that you might find quite irritating about your height?
“I’m 6”8’/6”9’ tall and I don’t have any complaints about my height. The only thing I can think of is that I never have any clothes that fit me”.
Do you think ladies are intrigued by the fact that you’re a basketball player? You guys are like hidden gems here in SA ha-ha please share one of the funniest or most embarrassing fan moments.
“Yes, I do think that there’s a level of intrigue for sure. Women and people, in general, can’t help but stare. I don’t have any embarrassing fan moments, but I have one that I found funny because I was with my daughter. She was only a few months old at the time and I was at a mall eating at a restaurant. I had to go change her and on my way to the toilet, these two ladies walked up to me, apologized for disturbing me and told me they saw me walk in and were waiting for me to come out so they could ask for a picture. Of course, I didn’t mind but I was carrying my daughter and her diaper was full and it wasn’t full of urine either.. they didn’t want her in the pictures so they took turns holding her, all the while trying to hold their breath because of her diaper. That made me chuckle. That’s the only one that I can remember or one that stands out to me looking back, ”he laughs.
In every industry, there are always challenges. What would you describe as the most significant setbacks in South African basketball?
“One of the biggest setbacks in South African basketball is governance. Our leaders don’t share the love for the game that we do. It is just a way to make money for them, at least that’s how I feel. Nothing they do or have done in the past few years has benefited the game of basketball in this country”.
What would you change about this industry if given the power and how would you go about it?
“If given the opportunity, I’d change our leaders. Although it’s hard to find individuals that will use their positions to better the game and the game alone, those are the individuals that are needed to change the state of basketball in this country.
I think if we had more district, provincial, national league tournaments, regular competitions for our national teams, both male and female in all age groups, we’d be in a much better state as a basketball community in this country, ” he says.
Would you agree or disagree with the sentiments that Basketball is not taken as seriously as Soccer & Rugby in South Africa?
“I agree, wholeheartedly. If basketball were taken as seriously as soccer and rugby in South Africa, we’d be just as accomplished, if not better. That’s how I feel, he says.
Would you encourage more young black boys to get into the game?
“Yes, I would… Basketball is a beautiful game. “Ball Is Life”.
After you’ve fully recovered, what is next for “Moose”?
“What’s next for me is up to God but I have been trying to get my modelling career started since I’ve got a bit of free time currently but after I’ve fully recovered I’ll get back in shape, find another team to play for and pick up where I left off”.
