24 February 2007
ZIMBABWE : Games Teams Expected Today
PREPARATIONS for the Zone VI All-Africa Games and Olympic qualifiers are expected to move a gear up today with the scheduled arrival of the men's women's basketball teams.
The Games are expected to burst into life on Monday at the City Sports Centre.
The qualifiers will run until March 3 and four countries -- South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have confirmed they will field teams in both the men's and women's teams.
Malawi are only sending their men's team while seasoned campaigners Angola will be fielding a women's team only.
The Angolan men's side automatically qualified for both tournaments by virtue of being the All-Africa Games defending champions and hosts of the Africa Nations Cup.
Zimbabwe, who have been in camp for more than two weeks, are upbeat about their chances of securing tickets to the continental sports showcase scheduled for Algeria in July. United States-based Elijah Moyo, who arrived in the country earlier this week, is expected to provide the inspiration to the men's team together with the Namibia-based Mpumelelo Hlabangane, captain Farai Tumbare, brothers Norest and Duncan Shenje and Alan Tegunde.
Basketball Union of Zimbabwe official and tournament coordinator Simon Lawson yesterday said they were putting final touches to the match venue ahead of the teams' arrival.
"The preparation on both the teams and on the match venue are going on well and we are actually putting the final touches to the preparations."The teams are expected to arrive on Saturday but Botswana have pulled out while all the other teams are sending both their teams except for Malawi and Angola who are sending only their men's and women's teams respectively," said Lawson.
The two top teams at the Zone Six games, from the men and women categories will represent Southern African at the All-Africa Games and the Nations Cup to be hosted by Algeria and Angola respectively this year.
Zimbabwe are hoping to cash in on Angola's absence to qualify as the Angolans posed the biggest threat to their aspirations.
The Games are expected to burst into life on Monday at the City Sports Centre.
The qualifiers will run until March 3 and four countries -- South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have confirmed they will field teams in both the men's and women's teams.
Malawi are only sending their men's team while seasoned campaigners Angola will be fielding a women's team only.
The Angolan men's side automatically qualified for both tournaments by virtue of being the All-Africa Games defending champions and hosts of the Africa Nations Cup.
Zimbabwe, who have been in camp for more than two weeks, are upbeat about their chances of securing tickets to the continental sports showcase scheduled for Algeria in July. United States-based Elijah Moyo, who arrived in the country earlier this week, is expected to provide the inspiration to the men's team together with the Namibia-based Mpumelelo Hlabangane, captain Farai Tumbare, brothers Norest and Duncan Shenje and Alan Tegunde.
Basketball Union of Zimbabwe official and tournament coordinator Simon Lawson yesterday said they were putting final touches to the match venue ahead of the teams' arrival.
"The preparation on both the teams and on the match venue are going on well and we are actually putting the final touches to the preparations."The teams are expected to arrive on Saturday but Botswana have pulled out while all the other teams are sending both their teams except for Malawi and Angola who are sending only their men's and women's teams respectively," said Lawson.
The two top teams at the Zone Six games, from the men and women categories will represent Southern African at the All-Africa Games and the Nations Cup to be hosted by Algeria and Angola respectively this year.
Zimbabwe are hoping to cash in on Angola's absence to qualify as the Angolans posed the biggest threat to their aspirations.
# posted by afrbk : 10:15
