adminBlessing Rwizi and Lovemore Kadzura
WITH nine weeks into the Mutare Basketball League season, star-studded, Mercenaries men have managed to keep their top spot, while Wolves tops in the ladies section.
Mercenaries’ dominance is under threat from Dangamvura Knights with whom they have the same number of points.
The 16-team 2015/16 league has been dominated by the battle of the top two teams who have an equal chance to win the title race.
Mercenaries and Dangamvura Knights are at level points with 10 points each, but Mercenaries are on top since they have won their matches with more points than Dangamvura Knights.
Mercenaries’ last match was against Rusape Giants in which they won by 70 point to 20 points. Mercenaries there by topped the league although they also have 10 points just like Dangamvura Knights.
Dangamvura Knights won 61-21 against Sixers, but have their points aggregate lower than Mercenaries, thereby losing a chance to go on top of the league table.
Mutare Basketball Association spokesperson, Taurai Dhliwayo, hailed Mercenaries’ performance.
“The past nine weeks of league action has been exciting and full of drama. Since the beginning of the season, the two teams have been winning their matches, but Mercenaries won most of their matches with more points than Knights, thereby making them the log leaders.
“The determination and hard work shows maturity of the league since it is no longer a one-team show like in the previous years. Competition is what makes the league and game exciting,” he said.
He added: “Wolves are also leading the ladies section with six points, followed by Sharks which have five points. AU and Rusape Giants ladies share the same number of points, which are four. AU are on third position because they accumulated more points than Rusape Giants,” said Dhliwayo.
Meanwhile, new kid on the block Rusape Giants is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to establish itself as a formidable and competitive side in the provincial league.
The team, which has both the male and female teams in the league has been posting impressive results in matches they have played so far, this is despite the fact that they are playing all their matches in Mutare as Rusape has no proper basketball fields.
The men’s team is occupying 5th place out of 10 teams and the ladies team is on position 4 out of 5 teams with a game in hand.
The teams’ co-coach Munyaradzi Manyengavana said the exposure their team has gained in the league has transformed them from a mere social club into a professional outfit. He further said they hope to change the lives of many basketball players in the town.
“Our teams both male and ladies are doing wonders in the league. Our current performance confirms that there is dormant talent in the town and as a team we are going to make sure that we tap and maximize that talent.
“Both teams have adapted well in the league posting impressive results and exhibiting exhilarating perfomances. We hope to maintain this momentum. The only major challenge the team is facing is transport because we do not have a standard court here in Rusape so every week we travel to Mutare for games.
“However we have engaged Minister Patrick Chinamasa for the construction of an all weather court at Makoni Country Club and he has asked us to send him qoatations of the court in order for him to know what is required so that he can chip in, said the former UZ Stars player.
Manyengavana added that they are inviting both potential sponsors and players to come on board. He further said that they have embarked on development programmes with schools in and around Rusape.
Online Reporter