Basketball in Africa

HONE LIWANGA reports:
THE Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) has unveiled the names of coaches to drill the men and women’s national teams to represent the country in this year’s Zone Six Under-20 Championship which Zambia will host in December.
ZBA president Boniface Kambikambi, who released the names in Lusaka yesterday, said his association is taking the games seriously to ensure Zambia performs well in the regional championship.
Kambikambi said the coaches will immediately start preparations for the regional championship.
He said Cuthbert Tembo will be in charge of the men’s team he will be assisted by Noah Mabvuto, ConnelKandala and Simon Nkamba with Roderick Njovu as team manager.
The women’s team will be drilled by Kennedy Nkandu, whose assistant is former ZBA general secretary BahatLiwena. Doris Silunyange is team manager.
The national basketball governing body has also appointed veteran trainer and former international John Zimba and Allan Shawa as technical directors.
“We’re optimistic that the team we have picked will deliver the right players that will be able to do our country proud during the Zone Six Under-20 Championship. As hosts, we want to get to the final. We are aware of the expectations from our people and we’ll do our best to ensure the team is adequately prepared for the games,” Kambikambi said.
The ZBA boss said his executive committee will also consider some players who are playing competitive basketball outside Zambia.