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Zimbabwe senior women’s basketball team players Mellisa Majonga (left) and Rachel Makoni during their last training session yesterday

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE stage is set for tomorrow’s first ball bounce of the joint Afro-Basketball and All-Africa Games qualifiers which will run for a week at Bulawayo’s ZITF.

Zimbabwe’s men and women’s teams held their last training sessions at the venue yesterday evening confident of conquering five other nations that are participating in the tournament.

Regional basketball powerhouse Angola, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and the hosts will compete in the men’s category. Only three nations — Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana are battling it out in the women’s group.

South Africa, who jetted into the country yesterday morning, were scheduled to train at the match venue last night.

“Everything is set for the Games and we are ready to roll. Botswana are on their way and should be here tonight and Zambia confirmed that they had left Lusaka by road while Seychelles and Angola are only arriving tomorrow (today),” said Joe Mujuru, the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general.

By 6PM yesterday, Botswana were still in Francistown while Zambia were expected to arrive in Bulawayo in the early hours of this morning.

Zimbabwe men’s team, dominated by locally-based players is confident of causing an upset with skipper Taurai Chitsinde saying; “Angola have always been good but we won’t be going into the competition to make up numbers but to fight for the pride of our country. We have beaten Zambia and South Africa in some matches and I’m sure they’ll want to do the same here in Bulawayo but we are braced up for the challenge.”

He is aware that their chances of making it to the Afro-Basketball Championships are bright as Angola have already qualified.

Angola are the defending champions and are only coming to Zimbabwe to fight for the All-Africa Games ticket.

The team which will amass most points at the end of the tournament will earn the sole ticket to compete in the finals of the Afro-Basketball Championships to be co-hosted by Tunisia and Cameroon and the All-Africa Games set for Congo-Brazzaville later this year.

Angola have already qualified for the Afro-Basketball Championships to be held in Tunisia meaning that should they top the group, they will earn themselves a ticket to the All-Africa Games which will run from September 4-19 in Congo-Brazzaville.

Laddy Munetsi, the Zimbabwe national women’s team coach, is satisfied with his team’s preparations.

“Everyone is in great shape and looking forward to the qualifiers. The pressure that we’re having is that of wanting to go back to the finals having been there in the last edition and it will be a great feeling to qualify in front of our home supporters,” said Munetsi.

Zimbabwe’s trio of Dorcas Marondera, Charity Chigumba and Yowana Nyangu who are based in South Africa, are expected to play key roles in leading a group of locally-based players qualify for the finals.

Zimbabwe teams
Men: Tawanda Chitsinde, Taurai Chitsinde, Tatenda Maturure, Duncan Shenje (Cameo), Nyasha Ngove, William Muchuchuti (Southern Mavericks), Benjamin Jani, Billy Melusi, Andrew Gonese, Neville Chivhanganye, Simbarashe Mungomezi (JBC), Sternard Mapurisa (Cape Town, South Africa), Julian Mavhunga (Pretoria, South Africa), Innocent Sithole (Mercenaries), Evaristo Pasipanodya, Simba Mhukahuru (South Africa), Tatenda Tswatswa (Unicorns)

Coach: Chewy Gilbert

Women: Melisa Majonga, Sharon Chamwarura (both Southern Mavericks), Geraldine Chiponda, Pretty Tinarwo (Lakers), Rumbidzai Dliwayo, Margaret Magwaro, Rachel Makoni, Charity Mukukuti, Kanyimo Margaret, Charity Chigumba (Vixens), Patience Chinhoyi (Real Returns), Yowana Nyangu (Wits University), Serina Chareka, Dorcas Marondera (JBC), Isabel Ngweni (FML)

Coach: Laddy Munetsi