10 February 2007
ZIMBABWE : Basketball preparations intensify
UNITED States based Elija Moyo has been included in the final squad for the joint preliminaries of the 2007 All- Africa Games and the Africa Cup of Nations to played later this month in the country.
Releasing the 15 member squad, team coach Ronald Garura said Moyo was still holed in the US, but will be in the country anytime this week before the team goes into camp on Sunday.
Also in the team is Allan Tegunde, Eric Banda, young Nyasha Mushekwi, Namibian based Mpumelelo Hlabangani and Brian Hore, who is also still to arrive from his base in Namibia, but is also expected in the country on Friday.
Announcing the final squad, Garura expressed confidence that his charges would qualify for both tournaments.
“From the games we have played, I can assure you that we have a very strong squad. We hope the two players, Hore and Moyo, who are still to arrive will be in town before Sunday when we go into camp. The tournament is going to be very tough, but we have home advantage and I hope that will work in our favour,” he said.
Zimbabwe has played two friendly matches ahead of the Zone Six championships. They recently hosted the Zambians at the weekend winning the first match 54-47 before wrapping up the series the following day with a 55-53.
This was the second time the Zimbabwean teams got the better of the Zambians in friendly matches played in preparation for the Zone Six basketball championship.
The two teams met in December last year in a tri-nations tournament that also featured Botswana. Zimbabwe men’s team were the overall winners of the tournament after seeing off the challenge of Zambia 71-59 in the final. Two top teams at the Zone Six basketball championships, from the men and women category will represent the Southern African region at the All-Africa Games and the Nations Cup to be hosted by Algeria and Angola respectively.
Zimbabwe’s chances of qualifying for the finals of both tournaments are bright especially given that Angola, who posed the biggest threat, will not be involved in the preliminaries.
Angola automatically qualified for both tournaments by virtue of being the defending champions of the All -Africa Games and hosts of the Africa Nations Cup.
Senegal will host the women’s tournament in August.Favourites South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia are all taking part in the competition.
Zimbabwe men’s squad
Allan Tegunde, Taurai Chitsinde, Emanuel Mukande, Eric Banda, Tonderai Mukundu, Tafi Soko, Norest Shenje, Duncan Shenje, Farai Tumbare, Royce Takaendesa, Nyasha Mushekwi, Mpumelelo Hlabangane, Tinashe Muchenje, Brian Hore and Elija Moyo.
Releasing the 15 member squad, team coach Ronald Garura said Moyo was still holed in the US, but will be in the country anytime this week before the team goes into camp on Sunday.
Also in the team is Allan Tegunde, Eric Banda, young Nyasha Mushekwi, Namibian based Mpumelelo Hlabangani and Brian Hore, who is also still to arrive from his base in Namibia, but is also expected in the country on Friday.
Announcing the final squad, Garura expressed confidence that his charges would qualify for both tournaments.
“From the games we have played, I can assure you that we have a very strong squad. We hope the two players, Hore and Moyo, who are still to arrive will be in town before Sunday when we go into camp. The tournament is going to be very tough, but we have home advantage and I hope that will work in our favour,” he said.
Zimbabwe has played two friendly matches ahead of the Zone Six championships. They recently hosted the Zambians at the weekend winning the first match 54-47 before wrapping up the series the following day with a 55-53.
This was the second time the Zimbabwean teams got the better of the Zambians in friendly matches played in preparation for the Zone Six basketball championship.
The two teams met in December last year in a tri-nations tournament that also featured Botswana. Zimbabwe men’s team were the overall winners of the tournament after seeing off the challenge of Zambia 71-59 in the final. Two top teams at the Zone Six basketball championships, from the men and women category will represent the Southern African region at the All-Africa Games and the Nations Cup to be hosted by Algeria and Angola respectively.
Zimbabwe’s chances of qualifying for the finals of both tournaments are bright especially given that Angola, who posed the biggest threat, will not be involved in the preliminaries.
Angola automatically qualified for both tournaments by virtue of being the defending champions of the All -Africa Games and hosts of the Africa Nations Cup.
Senegal will host the women’s tournament in August.Favourites South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia are all taking part in the competition.
Zimbabwe men’s squad
Allan Tegunde, Taurai Chitsinde, Emanuel Mukande, Eric Banda, Tonderai Mukundu, Tafi Soko, Norest Shenje, Duncan Shenje, Farai Tumbare, Royce Takaendesa, Nyasha Mushekwi, Mpumelelo Hlabangane, Tinashe Muchenje, Brian Hore and Elija Moyo.
# posted by afrbk : 12:05
