The Sunday Mail
FOUR foreign- based stars are widely tipped for national call ups when Zimbabwe’s senior men’s basketball coach Ellery Pinkerton announces his 30-men squad for the 2015 AfroBasket Championships.
The championships are set for Tunisia in August and Pinkerton looks set to call on the services of Italy based center Vitalis Chikoko, Robert Mugabe Jnr, Julian Mavunga and collegiate Freddy Manyau Jnr.
Chikoko, arguably the most experienced of the quartet with a handful of caps at international level, recently signed for Italy’s Serie A outfit Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia. The uncapped duo of Julian Mavunga and Freddy Manyau are both based in the United States of America where they play in the college basketball circuit while Mugabe Jr is based in the United Arab Emirates.
Pinkerton is yet to present his proposals to the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe for approval but the mentor has been hinting of a new look national team.
“I have a meeting with the BUZ chairman Addison Chiware, after which I will be in a better position to answer any questions and unveil my full training program for the games,” said Pinkerton.
“I have come up with a 30-men squad made up of the players that took part in the qualifiers, a couple of youngsters and about four foreign based players.
“I have already touched base with all of them. Chikoko, Mavunga and Freddy, who are based in Italy and the United States respectively, have expressed their willingness to come down and play.
“Robert Mugabe Jnr, who is currently in the country, has also expressed his willingness to play and depending on his schedule could be a more active player during the camps.” Pinkerton added that he will seek to have as much time as possible with the boys.
