The Sunday Mail
FOXES have had a storming start to the Harare Basketball League.
And unlike the NBA’s Bolton Celtic who are dominating the Eastern Conference powered by point guard Kyrie Irving, the local outfit is all about team work.
Coach Kelvin Ben has watched with satisfaction his team dispatching Hustlers, JBC, Raiders, Varsity Leopards, Cameo, Yadah and UZ Stars but insists they have not changed their target for the season — finishing in the top five.
“Our sights are on winning as many games as possible. The other equations will solve themselves out by end of season. Yes it’s encouraging to have an unbeaten start to the season but look its early days and we are not getting carried away.
We remain focused on respecting the last and next opponents.
“Our changing room remains focused on finishing in the top five of the league. Anything else is just a bonus, winning the league is a bonus,” said Ben. The Foxes coach revealed that he always has a tough time coming up with the match day squad.
“We have had a good run due to a bunch of committed players, the boys have been giving it all at practice.
Our training sessions have at least 20 players, all fighting for a place in the team and this competitive environment has seen our game improve a lot,” he said.
“Yes there might be a few leading lights as the stats show but I believe for those few to shine it is a result of the hard work everyone is putting in behind the scenes.” Foxes lost Tinotenda Nhira to Brave Hearts of Malawi and Tichaona Chinyanganya to Harare City and getting replacements during the off season was a top priority. The team swopped on Henry Chaza but he too looks headed for Malawi.
“The departures left us a bit unstable but there was no way we could stand in the way of the players.
Tino is now in Malawi and our latest recruit Henry is also headed there.
“We have a long standing relationship with Brave Hearts and they are offering these kids scholarships so one of the team’s visions of making sure the kids have a fall back plan after basketball is taking shape,” said Ben.
