The Sunday News
Simba Dube Sports Reporter
THE President’s son, Robert Mugabe Junior is among six foreign-based basketball players who have been included in the country’s provisional 20-man squad that will do duty at the Afro-Basket Championships which are set for Tunisia from 20 to 30 August.
Zimbabwe will be making their inaugural appearance at the continent’s most prestigious basketball tournament after defeating regional powerhouse South Africa 66-64 in the finals of the qualifiers which were hosted in Bulawayo last February.
Apart from Robert Mugabe Jnr who is based in the United Arab Emirates, others are the South African-domiciled duo of Andrew Gonese and Stenard Mapurisa, and the trio of Vitalis Chikoko, Wilson Juma and Hillary Netsianwa, who ply their trades in Europe.
Earning his first cap would be Moses Muyambo from the Mutare-based Mercenaries Basketball Club while Taurai Chitsinde of Cameo club in Harare will be looking forward to his sixth appearance in national colours.
In an interview on Thursday national team coach Ellery “Chewy” Pinkerton said as part of the preparations the team had been holding practice sessions for the past two weeks to keep the players in shape.
“In the last two weeks we have been holding training sessions thrice a week for the fitness of our players,” said Pinkerton.
This year’s version of the continental tourney marks the 28th anniversary of the Championships with the winning team qualifying for the Rio Olympics Games in 2016.
The team will be trimmed to the final 12 after an international friendly match series against Zambia set for 5 August.
“From the 20 players we have been training with, only 12 will be selected after we play against Zambia on 5 August,” said Pinkerton.
Zimbabwe are drawn in Group D of the tournament alongside Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and Algeria.
Zimbabwe will play their first match against Algeria on 20 August.
Meanwhile, the president of the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe Addison Chiware said his committee had covered in enough ground in their bid to secure funding for the team’s preparations and needs during the tournament.
“We have been in talks with a number of corporates and potential sponsors, and we are on the final stage as we are hoping to tie up all the loose ends by 31 July,” said Chiware.
The Afro-Basket tournament is held after every two years with the main objective of bringing together the best African players who ply their trade in the world’s leading basketball leagues.
Provisional squad
E Banda, V Chitoko, K Chimana, T Chitsinde, N Chivhanganye, A Gonese, B Hore, F Munyawu, S Mapurisa, A Masvisvi, T Maturure, J Mavunga, R Mugabe Junior, S Mungomezi, M Muyambo, D Shenje, E Pasipamire, N Ngove, H Netsiyanwa.
