Hornets sign Macucuti for 2018 season

CHAMPIONS Harare City Hornets have signed veteran player Charity Mucucuti in a bid to maintain their stranglehold on the Harare Basketball Association women’s league.

Mucucuti, also known as “Chockie” in basketball circles, is a versatile athlete who is also into rugby where she is the captain for the national sevens side.

Hornets are the defending champions in HBA League and the arrival of Mucucuti from local rivals, Vixens, is expected to boost their strong side.

Macucuti highlights the new additions to the Hornets team with Lorraine Manjoro arriving from Mavericks in Bulawayo and Tracy Makovere from Vixens.

Hornets coach, Andrew Chitauro, told The Herald the new players will add more value to his team.

“Having won the league championship convincingly, we feel we cannot sit and relax. It is of paramount importance that we strengthen those areas we felt still had shortfalls.

“We still base our team on our defensive prowess. Every player we get must have that minimum requirement of having the ability to play defence hence these three have that and an excellent offence to complement their play.

“We have added a centre in Charity Mucucuti and two shooting guards in Lorraine Manjoro and Tracey Mukovere to plug those areas”, he said.

Having spent the past season on the sidelines due to national duty commitments and maternity leave, the player believes she still has what it takes to carry the ambitious City Hornets side to dizzy heights.

Mucucuti started playing basketball with Cameo and made her international debut for Zimbabwe in the qualifying round of the 2007 FIBA Africa Championships.

Last year she featured in the AfroBasket Women 2017 qualification tournament.

Meanwhile, HBA have scheduled their annual general meeting for August 25 to set the programme for the upcoming 2018-19 season.