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HARARE City Hornets underlined their status as the emerging basketball giants in the country when they claimed the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe National Championships title over the weekend in Harare.
Hornets beat Foxes 60-25 in the final to be crowned national champions for the first time at Richwood.They beat Hustlers 61-53 on their way to the finals while Foxes defeated Mavericks 47-25.Hornets coach, Langton Moyo, said team work and determination paid off as they faced tough opponents on their way to the final.
“We played as a team. I guess we were disciplined, we were hungry, we were focused and it paid off. But more than anything we respected our opponents enough to play disciplined basketball.
“I rotated the whole bench, they all contributed.“Enough respect to Mercenaries from Mutare, Glen View Rockets and Hustlers, three very tough opponents that we faced and I have to respect Foxes.’’
Hornets were crowned champions in the Bob 93 basketball tournament, which was part of the Bob 93 Festival in March and they are currently on track for the HBA league title.
“It’s our first time (to win the national championships). It’s our first time in the A league, we have two games to go and if we win those two games we lift the league (title) as well. But what is important is to put our feet on the ground.
“What is important is to remain students of the game, we have to keep to our feet on the ground and keep learning,” Moyo said.
Hornets boast players such as national team captain Taurai Chitsinde and his brother Tawanda, Duncan Shenje, Tatenda Maturure and Neville Chivhanganye.The women’s competition was won by Greenstars who dismissed Mavericks 54-44.
In the third-and-fourth play-offs, Hustlers beat Mavericks 39-37 in a closely-contested battle in the men’s section while Lakers defeated Vixens 56-40 in the women’s category.
Online Reporter