The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
Zimbabwe senior men’s basketball coach Ellery Pinkerton yesterday had his final opportunity to assess his charges ahead of camp later this week as they prepare for the Africa Basketball tourney in Tunisia in September 2015.
Pinkerton has announced what he believes to be a very competitive 24-man provisional squad, the bulk of whom are participating in the on-going Independence Trophy.
The tournament, which enters its final phase today, saw 36 teams converge at Belvedere Teacher’s College in Harare.
Pinkerton said he was leaving the 12 final travelling slots open until the last possible minute.
The provisional team mostly contains players who took part in the qualifiers, with the additions being five foreign-based players and a few younger players.
“Given that most of my players were on duty with their clubs at the national championships, I gave them some time to rest and now it’s back to business,” said Pinkerton.
“I’ve already submitted my programme to the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe.
“The first camp will last for about a month, mostly made up of three-day workouts, after which we will have a couple more camps before the all-important one in July.
“Funds permitting, I also intend to travel with the team to South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique or Angola, so as to give the boys exposure and help them acclimatise to the different playing conditions,” he said.
All the foreign-based players availed themselves for the camps and the games.
“We spent the latter part of (last week) ironing out the programme with the foreign-based players and I am happy to say the response has been promising.
“Robert Mugabe Jnr and South African-based Andrew Gonese will be with us during the first camp, while the trio of Julian Mavunga, Vitalis Chikoko and Freddy Manyau Jnr will join us for the July camp.
“We will run them through the paces, assess their fitness and see how we can accommodate them into the team.
“I wish to reiterate that no-one, even the foreign based players, is assured of a place in my team. Everyone will be assessed and given a fair shake, before I announce the team,” said Pinkerton.
Provisional Squad
Tawanda Chitsinde, Nyasha November, Tatenda Maturure, Billy Melusi, Taurai Chitsinde, Andrew Gonese, William Muchuchuti, Vitalis Chikoko, Sternard Mapurisa, Julian Mavunga, Everisto Pasipanodya, Simbarashe Mungomezi, Tatenda Tswatswa, Eric Banda, Hillary Netsiya, Duncan Shenje, Robert Mugabe Jnr, Innocent Sithole, Nyasha Dzamani, Benson Nyatanga, Freddy Manyau Jnr, Noah Penduka,Trevor Sanyatwe, Brian Hove.
