Foxes shoot an air ball

FANCIED National Basketball League runners-up Foxes have pulled out of next month’s AfroBasket Club Championship qualifiers.

The Zone VI club games, slated for October 19-26 in Botswana, are set to attract the top four teams from the hosts, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe which will be represented by Harare City Hornets and Southern Mavericks.

While Hornets and Mavericks have already confirmed their participation, a huge cloud hangs over women’s champions Greenstars’ participation.

According to Greenstars coach, Clement Kufeketa, at least six of their players namely Tadiwa Mabika, Victoria Lopez, Charmaine Garwe, Kimberly Marembo, Getrude Mapiya and Rutendo Mugodzere have been ruled out by academic commitments. The team also recently lost two key players Pamhidzai Muzorewa and Tinotenda Nyanhete who have since started their tertiary education at Masvingo University and the National University of Science and Technology respectively. “Raising a team against such a background will be a near impossible task,” said Kufeketa. However, there is no such cloud of uncertainty over Foxes.

“Unfortunately, we will not be able to send our team to the club championships. We could not raise the money needed to fund our participation,” said club owner and coach Kelvin Ben.

Meanwhile, the two confirmed teams, Mavericks and Harare City Hornets, are stepping up their preparations with Hornets coach Langton “LK” Moyo particularly upbeat.

“I want this on the record, while we respect the Mozambican and Angola teams, we are going to the games to compete and will not be intimidated by any team,” said Moyo

“Mozambique and Angola have strong squads, with a couple of seasoned American players on their books, but we will give it our best shot.

“Any team that does not bring their A-game will suffer as we are ready to pounce at any and every opportunity,” he said.