10-07-2025
‘They said I'd never walk normally – now I'm a professional athlete'
Sphelele 'Padede' Dlamini was told he'd never walk normally. Instead, he learnt to fly – across basketball courts in France as a professional athlete.
The 29-year-old from Kwamashu was born with clubfoot that led to amputation, but he's turned that challenge into his greatest asset. Having played for HBC Gravelines, he now plays for CTH Lannion Basketball Club.
This is his story.
'Wheelchair basketball didn't just change my life – it saved it. It gave me purpose, direction and a second chance at greatness. Every challenge, every struggle, every moment of doubt was just preparing me for this moment. And this is only the beginning.
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I discovered wheelchair basketball during primary school at Open Air School. I'd tried various sports, but nothing clicked until I saw kids from other schools rolling onto our courts for wheelchair basketball tournaments.
I fell in love with the sport at first sight. There was something about the speed, the strategy, the pure athleticism that just spoke to me.
Those Thursday afternoon sessions became everything to me. Within months I was dominating school competitions. Soon I was representing KwaZulu-Natal provincially, collecting medals and making a name for myself.
But let me be honest about the reality we face in South Africa. Our sports infrastructure is decades behind other countries. We don't have proper equipment, professional transport systems or the support structures European athletes take for granted. Here, wheelchair basketball is treated more like a hobby than a legitimate profession.
Despite these limitations, I refused to see them as excuses. Sports became my tool for building a better life. I've always been someone with a plan, especially when it comes to basketball, and this sport has been my pathway to a brighter future.
The breakthrough I'd been working toward came in 2016 with my first professional offer abroad. Financial constraints killed that dream before it could take flight.
But in 2022, when Gravelines basketball club in France came calling, Michael Stevens from the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund stepped in to make the impossible possible.
Mike handled everything – visa applications, flight bookings, travel insurance. I knew this was my moment because opportunities like this simply don't come around for South African wheelchair basketball players.
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The contrast between South African and European wheelchair basketball is like night and day. In France, there are physical therapists, nutritionists, world-class training facilities and a level of professionalism that we can only dream of back home. It's not just about playing the game – it's about being treated like the professional athlete you are.
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My goals now extend beyond personal success. I'm targeting contracts with higher-level clubs in Germany, Spain or Italy, and I dream of representing South Africa on the international stage. Prayer and unwavering belief have carried me this far – I know I can go further.
But this journey isn't just about personal glory. I want to use my platform as a way to advocate for others like me. I want to show every kid with a disability that missing a part of your body doesn't mean you're missing opportunities in life. You still exist, you still matter and you can still achieve greatness.'
