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THE availability of the foreign-based duo of Vitallis Chikoko and Julian Mavunga for next weekend’s AfroBasket qualifiers at City Sports Centre in Harare is in doubt.
National team coach Emmanuel Mukandi would have wanted to have the France-based Chikoko and the Japan-based Mavunga on his roster, but indications are that the pair will not be jetting in.
The biggest stumbling block the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe is facing in bringing in the two is that clubs reserve the right not to release players if the request does not come at least 30 days before the international engagement they are being called up for.
The AfroBasket qualifiers were only confirmed a fortnight ago.
“There was a delay from Fiba Africa in releasing the dates and venues of the qualifiers, and this really affected our operations as we were unable to state, for sure, when we would need these players. We have since sent out our requests, and the ball is now in the players and their clubs’ courts,” said BUZ secretary-general Joe Mujuru.
He added: “Look, in as much as we would love to have these guys here with us, for the games, we also have 15 extremely talented local based players in camp. We qualified for the 2015 AfroBasket finals with more or less the same guys and went on to make just two additions when we went Tunisia for the finals.
“This alone speaks volumes of the talent we have at our disposal, and we have every confidence in the current crop of local based players we have in camp.”
Chikoko’s agent Peter Mubanda said the Pau Lac Orthez player was ever ready to play for the national team but could not force his club to releasing him.
“There is always a problem when it comes to this stuff,” said Mubanda. “On one end you have Vita really eager to come and play for his country, and then there is the club that wants to win games. Hopefully, we will be able to find some common ground, with the club, and secure his release.”
Meanwhile, Botswana has pulled out of this weekend’s qualifiers, leaving Mozambique, Madagascar and hosts Zimbabwe as the teams that will battle for the sole ticket to the AfroBasket Championships slated for Congo Brazzaville later this year.
“Apparently they could not secure the required funds to finance the trip here and this leaves only Mozambique, Madagascar and Zimbabwe as the only teams that will take part in the qualifiers,” said Mujuru of Botswana’s last minute withdrawal.
The games will be at the City Sports Center from March 18-25.
Online Reporter