The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
LOCAL basketball may have been granted a second bite of the cherry at the AfroBasket pre-qualifiers, but the senior men’s team faces a daunting task in their bid to advance.
They will be part of the AfroBasket pre-qualifiers alongside South Sudan, Cape Verde and Chad in Cameroon next month.
Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ) would, apart from getting Government approval to assemble a team to train and travel to Cameroon, also need to review their coaching structure.
This has coincided with calls from various quarters for the appointment of former Zimbabwe international Eric Banda as head coach.
The relaxation of lockdown restrictions, including the nod given to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to proceed with the tour of Pakistan, have raised realistic expectations of a possible return to action. But there are concerns over fitness because of the prolonged period of inactivity since March.
There are also doubts on star player Vitalis Chikoko’s availability.
Without their charismatic captain and talisman, the country’s chances of success are reduced.
Should BUZ get approval, assemble a decent outfit and secure the services of their captain, they would also have to overcome South Sudan, who are odds-on favourites to win the tournament and progress.
Home to some of the tallest people and among one of the fastest growing basketball nations on the continent, South Sudan are enjoying a purple patch, especially since appointment of former NBA superstar Luol Deng as the South Sudan Basketball Federation (SSBF) president.
Deng played in the NBA for five different franchise teams in 15 years.
His experience and expertise is already rubbing off on players, coaches and the fans.
Cape Verde are no pushovers either.
BUZ can take lessons from these two teams.
Maybe the time has come for the union to hit the reset button, put their house in order and infuse new blood into key offices.
One of the much-talked-about characters who is believed to have the potential to transform the local game is Poland-based Banda.
Banda, or “EB’’ as he is popularly known within basketball circles, leads an all-star cast of rising young and fresh-minded coaches like Hornets and Zimbabwe assistant coach Tawanda Nemutambwe, Foxes’ gaffer Kelvin Ben, Martin Muchena and Thabani Moyo.
Moyo is a Johannesburg Basketball League champion with Phoenix International; Muchena has made the last three finals in Zambia with Munali Suns, which is a similar feat to that of Kelvin Ben, who has been in the last four national league finals with Foxes here in Zimbabwe.
However, it is the acronym EB that has dominated talk and whispers within these basketball halls, so much that the man himself is aware of the hype.
“Obviously, it is always an honour if your name comes up in talk or debate, but as far as me coming to coach the national team right now, those are just rumours,” said the 36-year-old coach.
“Now it is a bit too early to even start thinking about taking up that job, but maybe in the near future. Yes, I wouldn’t mind leading the team,” he said.
Diplomacy aside, there are a few reasons why Banda appears tailor-made for that post one day.
“My love for basketball started back in 1994, and during those days, my cousin would watch basketball games and clips with his friends on VHS tapes and on television.
“They would then go to play basketball at the neighbourhood courts, and I would tag along and copy what they did on the sidelines, as I was too young to play,” he said.
That love for the game and Michael Jordan grew with time and gave birth to arguably one of the most underrated careers in local basketball.
Banda is one of the few players who have crossed the Bulawayo-Harare divide and endeared himself to both sets of fans.
After starting his career with Giants in 2001, Banda played for Cavaliers, JBC, Cameo and Mbare Heat, winning seven National League and Harare Basketball League titles, which included two 3-peats with JBC and Cameo, including countless MVP (most valuable player) accolades.
He formed his own club, Gladiator Knights, and won numerous accolades during his time at Maxaquene and Costa do Sol (loan) in Mozambique.
Banda has since called time on his international career, walking away after Zimbabwe’s dismal performance at the 2015 AfroBasket Championships.
It was after the tourney that he chose to transition into coaching.
“I would like to think that I had a very successful career, and I don’t have many regrets,” said Banda.
“The one that does stand out and gives sleepless nights to this day is the 2015 AfroBasket in Tunisia. I reached the point where I got tired of doing the same thing over and over again, all the while expecting different results.
“The way we prepared to go to Tunisia, the way we played, the way we let good leads in crucial games slip was the same thing we had done over and over again.
“I remember looking at the bench and thinking to myself, I want to try coaching and see if I can do things differently,” he said.
Banda has lived up to his word: He has just finished his sports science degree in Poland, having enrolled and attained a FIBA Europe coaching diploma last year.
He has been putting those coaching skills to work at Hooplife Basketball Academy in Poland and staying fit by playing for Division 1 side Espo Pszczóka, where he is already a two-time All Star.
He has, however, not lost touch with the game back home.
“Yes, I have been keeping tabs on Zimbabwe basketball and there is a lot of raw potential.
“However, there are a lot of things that have to change before I even start thinking, let alone talking, about coaching the national team.
“We have to identify what kind of basketball we want to play, and I believe that Zimbabwe has the potential to be a great defensive team that is able to turn defence into a quick transitional offence.
“We have great shooters and we just have to create more chances for them.
“Going forward, the player should always come first and our administrators should do more in terms of player-welfare, preparations, and more resources and energy should be channelled towards our developmental structures,” he said.
