admin
AFTER taking the Italian Serie A basketball league by storm, Zimbabwean centre Vitalis Chikoko has set his sights on doing the job for his country.
The 29-year-old is in camp with the national team as they prepare to make their debut appearance at the Afro-Basket Championships in Tunisia next month.
Chikoko is part of a galaxy of foreign-based stars fine-tuning for the basketball extravaganza.
He joins the likes of Robert Mugabe Jr, Wilson Juma, Hillary Netsiyanwa and the South Africa-based pair of Andrew Gonese and Stenard Mapurisa in camp.
However, it is Chikoko whom coach Ellery “Chewy” Pinkerton will look to to build his team around given that he plies his trade in a professional league.
Chikoko joined Serie A outfit Grisson Bon Reggio Emilio this year as a free agent after Bundesliga outfit TBBT Trier could no longer afford his wages.
He helped Grisson Bon Reggio Emilio into the top three before coming agonisingly close in the Serie A play-off final, losing 4-3 to champions Dinamo Basket Sassari.
“My season was a good one. I came to a side that was playing in a very competitive league and one that was hungry for success,” said Chikoko. “They had a few players of my age in the team and it wasn’t tough for me to adapt to both the team and the environment. I played about seven games in the regular season before we went all the way to the finals.
“The play-offs were a really good experience for me and I think the competitive nature of Serie A will go a long way in improving my game.”
The basketball ace believes Zimbabwe has much talent in its camp.
“Zimbabwe has a very skilful, talented crop of players, blending both youth and experience and I am really excited at the prospect of playing alongside these guys. I have already played alongside some of them, while others I am yet to. So, it’s a really an exciting time for me.
“It’s our first dance at a competition of this magnitude and there is very little pressure on us, which will give us freedom to enjoy the moment and play our game.
“Hopefully everything will go our way and we will put up a decent effort. Personally, I would like to carry the form I finished the season with in Italy,” he said.
The towering centre’s game has matured following his move to Italy.
“During my short time in Italy, I believe my game evolved a lot and this can only be a good thing for Zimbabwe. In Germany l led the team in everything and my game was more about scoring. However, in Italy we have a lot of scorers in the team, so I did more of rebounding, blocking and guarding the best on the court. That alone, I believe, has made me a better player, more of a team player.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter