Double mission for b/ ball teams at Region 5 Games

BOTH national basketball Under-16 girls and boys teams are aware of the need to raise their ante at the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Games to be held in Lilongwe, Malawi, next month.

The games run from December 2 to 11. Team Zimbabwe are already in camp in Harare with 205 athletes expected to make the trip to Malawi.

Zimbabwe will field teams in athletics, tennis, basketball, eSports, netball, taekwondo, judo, swimming, gymnastics, boxing and athletics for the visually impaired.

And while aiming to win gold at the meet, basketball teams will also be eyeing qualification for the Afrobasket tournament to be staged next year with the actual dates and venue yet to be notified.

Girls’ team coach, Pretty Tinarwo, said her players are gelling well as they polish up before departing for Malawi.

“We started preparing for the Region 5 Games back in February with more than 60 girls who we have been trimmed to 12 right now.

“We have girls from Mashonaland East, Matabeleland North, Bulawayo, Mashonaland West and Harare in the team,” said Tinarwo.

“These girls have not played basketball for the past two years and it’s like we are training the Under-14s. But I am happy with their state of preparedness right now.

“At Under-16 level, I am happy we are at the same level in terms of competitiveness with powerhouses Angola and Mozambique.

“We stand a very big chance of winning gold. The good thing about it is that it’s not only about winning the gold or silver at this meet but it also comes with qualification to the Afrobasket tournament whose dates and venue are yet to be confirmed.

“My girls are geared up and we will go into battle knowing exactly what we need to do to take the medals home.

Captain Nicole Badwell echoed her coach’s sentiments with the Peterhouse learner hammering on the need for her teammates to keep their eyes on the ball.

“I think we need to work more on our physique. We stand a very big chance of winning gold and qualify for the Afrobasket championships. It’s up to us to throw the needed punches,” she said.

The boys team are also confident of victory.

Coach Tapuwa Mungunyana said his boys are ready to roar at the jamboree.

“I think we have covered a lot of ground in terms of mastering the fundamentals of the game.

“We have tried to get the best talent we have in Zimbabwe at this age-group including taking one of our boys from Kenya where he learns,” he said.

“We are going all out to get what we are supposed to get. At this level, we are also a powerhouse and we will be hoping to win gold for the country.

“The boys are also motivated by the fact that if we win or come second, we will qualify for the Afrobasket tournament next year. That has made them work even harder.

“I can safely say, the boys are ready and we are ready”.