Zim gets Afrobasket lifeline
ZIMBABWE’S senior men basketball team have been given a lifeline in their quest to qualify for the AfroBasket championships as they will battle it out for the last slot to the event following the withdrawal of Congo-Brazzaville.
They will compete against Chad and Central African Republic in an additional qualifier in Bamako, Mali, from Friday to Sunday. The team leaves for Mali tonight. The championships, to be held in August, were initially set to be hosted by Congo-Brazzaville, but they pulled out of the continental showpiece.
Basketball Union of Zimbabwe president, Addison Chiware, confirmed the development and said “it’s an unbelievable opportunity.”
“It’s a qualifying tournament for AfroBasket. The guys were supposed to go to Congo-Brazzaville. But Congo-Brazzaville pulled out. Angola are now hosting. It’s an unbelievable opportunity for us,” said Chiware.
The team has been training at the University of Zimbabwe under the guidance of Innocent Sithole.
Zimbabwe’s dream of making their second appearance at the African championships went up in smoke when they lost to Mozambique in the qualifiers. They went on to lose to South Africa by five points in a closely contested two-game play-off in Johannesburg. South Africa took the first match 74-67 and Zimbabwe won the second one 70-68, but it was not enough to turn the tables in their favour.
The neighbouring countries had earned the right to the play-offs when they finished as the best runners-up in the regional qualifiers.
The latest development presents Zimbabwe with another opportunity to redeem themselves and turn their dream to have another dance at the championships into a reality.
The senior men’s side took part in the AfroBasket championships for the first time in 2015 when Tunisia hosted.
So far, countries that have made it for the main tournament are reigning champions Nigeria, Angola, Morocco, Mozambique, Tunisia, Mali, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Egypt, Uganda, Guinea, Rwanda and South Africa.
According to FIBA Guinea and Rwanda have been awarded wild cards to compete at the African basketball showpiece.
Team: Taurai Chitsinde, Tawanda Chitsinde, Simbarashe Mungomezi, Tatenda Maturure, Evaristo Pasipamire, Neville Chivhanganye, Warren Tegama, Nathan Warikandwa, Noah Pendukah, Dumisani Moyo, Tinotenda Mugabe, Shonhiwa Ushe. Coach: Innocent Sithole. Team manager: Andrew Chitauro.