Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
AFTER four days of gruelling action in the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (Buz) National Club Championships held at Khanyisile Sports Centre and Eveline High School, Harare sides Foxes and Vixens were crowned champions in the men’s and women’s divisions respectively.
The championships brought together the best eight teams in the male and female categories in the country to determine the number one basketball sides.
The teams were split into two groups of four per division and played in a round robin format, with the two top sides progressing to the semi-finals.
Foxes beat holders Mercenaries from Mutare 67-52 in a tense final played on Monday evening. Mercenaries had beaten JBC in the semi-finals, while Foxes had found a way past Bulawayo team Mavericks, beating them 61-43.
Foxes had been grouped together with Mercenaries in the initial stages of the competition and emerged as the top two sides in the group.
Foxes finished top and Mercenaries finished second. JBC had topped their group, with Mavericks as runners-up.
In the women’s final, Vixens beat fellow Harare side UZ Sparks 71-58.
Vixens had finished their group matches unbeaten and saw off Lakers 52-41 in the semi-final.
Kuda Pote of Foxes was named the men’s most valuable player and Ellen Chikoto from Vixens got the same accolade in the women’s game.
Foxes will now represent the country in Africa’s premier men’s basketball league consisting of 12 teams.
Buz president Joe Mujuru said: “We are pleased to have successfully hosted this competition. I felt the competition levels were up there, which is great news considering that we are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.” – @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter