The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO is expected to be a hive of activity when the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ) hosts two major tournaments later this month.
Six nations and 10 teams will converge for the Women’s AfroBasket and Men’s AfroCan qualifiers slated for February 20 to 28 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.
Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, South Africa and hosts Zimbabwe will take part in the competitions, which are expected to run concurrently during the week-long basketball extravaganza.
Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe will compete in the Women’s AfroBasket Zone Six Qualifiers, with the finals of the quadrennial tournament pencilled in for July 28 to August 6 in Kigali, Rwanda.
In the men’s AfroCan Zone Six Qualifiers, Zimbabwe will slug it out with Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa.
The tournament, which is still relatively new, is a national team competition for players based in Africa.
It is also specifically for nations that will not compete in the World Cup African Qualifiers.
Four teams — the Democratic Republic Congo, Kenya, Angola and Morocco — have already qualified for the finals of the second edition of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) AfroCan by virtue of reaching the semi-finals of the last edition that was held in Bamako, Mali.
The host nation and dates for the 2023 FIBA AfroCan are yet to be determined.
BUZ president Joe Mujuru told The Sunday Mail Sports that preparations for the two tournaments are already at an advanced stage.
“We are doing our best to make sure we hold a tournament worthy of international standards, and, so far, everything is going on smoothly,” said Mujuru.
“We are working on a budget of US$60 000 and (we) have tasked the local organising committee to put everything in place and ensure we hold a tournament of the highest standard.
“We have received a buy-in from our stakeholders . . .”
The union recently announced the squads for the two tournaments, with Foxes and Vixens head coach Kelvin Ben in charge of the men’s team, while Andrew Chitauro has been tasked with coaching the women’s team.
Roughly, 20 players have been called up for both squads.
“New year, new things and a new-look Zimbabwe national team,” said Mujuru.
“This is our first assignment coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and I think we have scored big this time with the amount of new blood and talent in the 20-member squads for the tournaments.
“Harare remains the biggest basketball province in the country, and the HBA (Harare Basketball Association) have done a really good job with the introduction of the Super 6 League.
“We expected their players to bring with them that high level of intensity to the national team,” he said.
Zimbabwe squads
Men
Dyvonne Pfachi, Chris Tsvarai, Andile Chirinda, Tawanda Chitsinde, Tatenda Tswatswa, Tanaka Ndiyara, Irvine Manzini, Jordan Davids, Agrippa Masvisvi, Innocent Zhomwa, Tatenda Maturure, Noah Penduka, Manoah Ntini, Ben Nyatanga, Dexter Nganga, Davison Chivero, Panashe Kuduwa, Shonhiwa Ushe, Vitalis Chikoko, Alvin Madzedze
Women
Helena Machivaire, Nyasha Katsatste, Yollanda Matayataya, Francisca Sekete, Happiness Maroto, Emma Makoni, Kimberly Marembo, Ellen Chikoto, Thelma Goredema, Cynthia Mambo, Fadzai Manongo, Sharon Chamwarura, Mary Chawayipira, Tadiwa Mabika, Stabile Ngandini, Gertrude Mapiya, Kelly Mhembere, Nomusa Dzobo, Lopez Viki, Melissa Majonga
