Zim,Mozambique clash in AfroBasket qualifiers

THE Zimbabwe senior men national basketball team will this weekend take on Mozambique in the AfroBasket qualifiers at the City Sports Centre in Harare after Botswana and Madagascar pulled out.

The four countries were set to battle it out in the event pencilled to start on Sunday and run up to March 25.

But it’s now going to be held on Saturday and Sunday.

National teams’ general manager Charmaine Chamboko confirmed the development.

“With Madagascar and Botswana pulling out, the AfroBasket men’s qualifiers will now unfortunately only be between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

“Games will be played on a home-andaway basis on the 18th and 19th of March at City Sports Centre,” said Chamboko.

Chamboko said the times for the matches will be announced in due course and the team was currently training at Richwood Paraplegic Sports Club.

Team coach Emmanuel Mkandi said they were looking forward to the encounter although they will be missing some of the top players they were considering for this competition such as France-based Vitalis Chikoko and Julian Mavunga, who is based in Japan.

“We have all the local players in camp and we are fine-tuning our preparations. We are hoping for a close encounter but we should pull through with a victory.

“I think the local players can handle the challenge. Vitalis (Chikoko) would have been a plus but we have the calibre to pull through,” said Mkandi.

Zambia are hosting the other qualifier, where they will be joined by Angola, Seychelles and South Africa.

All eyes will now be on the senior men after the women’s side lost to Mozambique in Maputo last week.

They were the only two countries that took part following the withdrawal of South Africa while the other expected countries did not confirm their participation.

Zimbabwe made their maiden appearance at the championships in 2015, which hosted by Tunisia and if they manage to pull through this weekend, it will be their second time at the event.