PeacePlayers South Africa Storybook FINAL - Flipbook - Page 28
Mthoko “Manny” Madonda was once a young and feisty
lead point guard for South Africa’s national basketball team
from 1998 - 2006. When he wasn’t representing the national
team, he was representing the University of KwaZuluNatal’s basketball team, coaching at Durban High School, or
studying for psychology exams.
Mthoko remembers meeting Ntobeko Ngcamu and Ryan
Douwie as his first introduction to Playing for Peace. He
later met Sean who was assembling a group of peers to help
him build Playing for Peace. Mthoko says the dream quickly
became a “we” thing, because no one individual could carry
the load on their shoulders. Most communities were very
receptive to the work they were trying to do. After all,
community-driven work would be impossible without the
support of the locals.
Mthoko jokingly says that at some points, the organisation
seemingly came across as a group of overly eager young
Americans who were passionate about growing the game
and connecting young people. However, it was a wellbalanced combination of foreigners and locals. Mthoko says
that the young group just had a “raw passion and emotion for
the game. Although we got a lot of things wrong early, the
right intention was always there, and it was the right time.”
The students were nimble, young, and energetic. Laureus
noticed their work and eventually came aboard as the
organisation’s first partner in 2001. After that, Laureus and
Playing for Peace grew together. Playing for Peace later
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PEACEPLAYERS SOUTH AFRICA STORYBOOK
