Zimbabwe senior basketball men’s team fall to Mozambique

Story by Mthokozisi Dube

THE Zimbabwe men’s basketball team missed out on qualification to the Afrocan finals after losing to Mozambique 71-51 in the final of the qualifiers that concluded in Bulawayo Tuesday night.

It will be Mozambique’s men’s and women’s teams that will be part of the AFROBASKET AFROCAN finals penciled for Rwanda and Angola later this year. Mozambique men’s side got the better of Zimbabwe 71-59, while the women’s side beat Angola 90-82 in finals played last night in Bulawayo.

While Mozambicans celebrated their win, it was a different story for Zimbabwe, who had hoped to make it to the AFROCAN finals in Angola.

Zimbabwe men’s basketball team Coach Kelvin Ben said, ‘‘We were playing a side that had ten senior players who have been involved in senior competitions and two rookies. So in terms of competition, we were bound to face a challenge. They executed their game plan so we’ll by frustrating our star player and in the end we as a technical team we tried.’’

Despite the heartbreak, Zimbabwe is proud to have hosted a successful tournament.

Basketball Union of Zimbabwe President Joe Mujuru noted, ‘‘It is sad we didn’t make it to the finals but we are happy to have hosted a successful tournament. We will use the experience to prepare for other competitions.’’

Zimbabwe’s senior men’s team finished second, while the ladies settled for third spit after getting the better of Zambia 70-50 in a third and fourth play-off.

Mozambican ladies and men’s teams will represent the zone in the Afrocan finals set for Rwanda and Angola.