The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe senior women’s basketball team regroups today ahead of its trip to Mozambique for the FIBA Afro-Basketball Qualifiers that start on Friday in Maputo.
The team was in camp for two days last week, Friday and Saturday.
The qualifiers in Maputo will run from 3 to 12 March and involve the hosts, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Zambia, Angola and Swaziland.
Team manager, Charmaine Chirinda said they would be camping in Bulawayo before departing for Mozambique.
“This would be our last training camp before we head for Mozambique. Players are expected to be in camp today so that we start our final preparations in earnest,” she said, adding they would be leaving on Thursday.
The winner of the qualifiers will win the ticket to the represent the region at the FIBA Afro-Basketball Tourney scheduled for Bamako, Mali from 15 to 30 September.
Chirinda said they have the best squad in a while and believe only Mozambique could stand in their way of qualifying for the African finals.
She said they managed to bring in Alexandra Maseko, formerly based in the United States, who has been handed the arm-band while there is also South Africa-based Sithabile Ngandini, while from Zambia there is Chawayipira, Nyasha Katsande and Dorcas Marondera.
“The squad is strong and gives us hope that we will be able to win in Mozambique but at the moment we are battling financial challenges which we are hoping to overcome before we travel for Maputo.
“We are in the red by $5 000 but we have approached several companies to chip in and ensure our trip is a success. We are calling on corporates to come forward and assist us fulfil our mission,” said Chirinda.
Meanwhile, eight teams from FIBA Africa’s Zones 6 and 7 will battle it out in Harare and Lusaka for two places in the men’s final round of FIBA AfroBasket 2017.
In the Zambian capital Angola, South Africa, Madagascar and the host country, would be competing in Group G, while in Harare teams in Group H, Mozambique, Seychelles, Botswana and Zimbabwe will battle it out for the ticket to the continental championships.
Seychelles and Madagascar are members of FIBA Africa Zone 7 but have been drawn in Zone 6.
Group G will be played from 12-18 March, while Group H will run from 19-25.
The qualifiers will be played in a round-robin format with each team taking on its two opponents.
The winner of each group will secure automatic qualification for Africa’s flagship competition taking place in Brazzaville, while the teams that finish second in Groups G and H will face each other for the remaining qualification spot.
Final women’s team: Yolanda Matayataya, Geraldine Chibonda (second vice captain), Stabile Ngandini, Sibongile Mnkandla, Melissa Majonga, Emma Makoni, Francisca Sekete, Getrude Mapiye, Dorcas Marondera, Charity Mucucuti (first vice-captain), Margaret Kanyimo, Alexandra Maseko (captain).
Coach: Erinos Katsaruware
Assistant coaches: Mxolisi Ndlovu, Vivian Vareta
