Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Manicaland basketball fraternity will tomorrow converge at Mwenje Chillspot Florida Court for the end-of-season awards ceremony, meant to honour outstanding individuals in the province.
The awards ceremony, sponsored by UK-based former City Sophists and City Saints player, Taurai Dhliwayo, will commence after the day’s games, which start at 11am.
The award categories for individual accolades include Most Valuable Player (MVP), People’s Choice Award, Rookie of the Year, Best Defensive Player, Best Rebounder, Best Assist, Best Shooter, Best Sportsman and Most Disciplined Player.
For the team and community awards, the Smartest Team, Most Disciplined Team, Coach of the Year, Referee of the Year and Best Supporter of the Year will also get recognition.
Companies and individuals to be recognised for their contributions to the growth of basketball include Spar, Willowton, DP Service Centre, Halsteds, Africabet, Manica Barrels, Ascellent Investments, Serengeti Logistics, The Manica Post, and Diamond FM.
The Manicaland Basketball Association League season ended recently, with D-Knights emerging as champions, Villa Stars secured second place, and Sporto Hoppers took third.
SK Hurricanes and City Saints finished fourth and fifth, respectively, while Africa University came sixth.
In the ladies’ category, Wolves were crowned champions, with Rangers taking second place.
Mutare Heat and Chitora Girls finished third and fourth, respectively, Africa University fifth, and City Saints last.
Dhliwayo commented: “This is a small gesture to express my gratitude for the significant role this league played in shaping my life, both as a player and as an individual. I shall always be grateful, and wish to contribute in my own small way, to ensure that some youngsters also benefit from it as I did.”
Manicaland Basketball Association president, Justice Nyauchi said: “As the president of the Manicaland Basketball Association, the primary objective of these awards is to promote the growth of basketball in our province, and remind the people of Manicaland that basketball is alive, thriving, and deserve their support.
“A community united through sport fosters development, drives anti-drug campaigns, and creates job opportunities. Through basketball, we are creating a safe, engaging space for young adults, promoting discipline, teamwork, and ambition. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to schools in Manicaland that have initiated basketball scholarships.
“This marks a significant milestone, and we hope this support will extend to our tertiary institutions, thereby enhancing the pathway from grassroots to elite competition. Lastly, I am proud to note that this awards ceremony is a pioneering event in Zimbabwe. May it serve as a model for other provinces to follow, as we continue to foster a robust basketball culture nationwide.”
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