The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
ZIMBABWEAN basketball starlet Tondi Mashandu is busy waving a come and get me placard to the senior national team from his United States base. Mashandu was born in Italy to Zimbabwean parents and is currently plying his trade at Castleton University (Spartans) in Vermont.The 21-year-old guard is eager to play for the national team and has made himself available for selection ahead of next month’s Afro Basket qualifiers.
“I have never made no secret of my desire to play for Zimbabwe,” said Mushandu in an interview last week.
“I might have been born in Italy, and based in the United States, but my heart belongs to Zimbabwe. My parents are from Zimbabwe and my desire is to see the country’s basketball hit the big platform. I know the potential is there.”
Despite a tight school and club schedule, Mushandu insists that all he needs to make the trip to Harare is a call from newly appointed national team coach Emmanuel Mukandi.
“I am very much available, but so far no one has reached out to me yet. The only issue for me is the time as I need to get releases from school and plan out my class schedules. Otherwise I am very much available,” he said.
French based talisman Vitalis Chikoko is also keen on playing in the qualifiers but his manager says the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe need to get in touch with his cub Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez on time.
“Time is of the essence,” said Chikoko’s agent Peter Mubanda.
“Vitalis is currently taking part in the Euro league with his French club and this may cause a dilemma.
“At the moment, he is playing an average of two games a week and there is a need for the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ) to send in their requests well in advance.
“This will allow both his club and coach ample time to plan out their schedules.
“Failure to do so may result in Vitah (Chikoko) missing out.”
The 25-year-old has since broken into the starting-five at Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez and his availability will give Mukandi a massive boost ahead of a campaign he has little room for error.
BUZ president Addison Chiware hinted that Mukandi, who was assistant to Pinkerton, will have to impress in his debut assignment if he entertains any hopes of staying in the job for a long time.
“As you might be well aware, the senior men’s national coach, Ellery Pinkerton, relocated to the United States last month. Given the timing of his departure, we decided to promote his former assistant Mukandi. “Mukandi will be in charge for next month’s AfroBasket qualifiers, after which we will review his performance with the option of extending his contract should he qualify,” said Chiware.
