adminLillian Sibanda in BULAWAYO
IT was double tragedy for Zimbabwe men and women’s basketball teams as they were booted out in the semi-finals of the ongoing African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games basketball matches at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair yesterday.
Both the women and men’s final feature Angola and Mozambique.
The Zimbabwean ladies team were beaten convincingly 43-83 by Mozambique.
Their male counterparts met the same fate when they were dismissed 57-70 by Mozambique.
The local men and women’s teams meet South Africa for the third and fourth place play-off this morning.
Zimbabwe’s women coach Carlos Niquice said his team put up a good fight and blamed fatigue for the loss.
“They played a good game and gave it their best but we were affected by the fact that the players did not get enough time to rest.
“I am happy about their performance and I am looking forward to the third and fourth place game.
“We will try to get the players psyched up so that we can, at least, get a bronze,” he said.
On their path to the semi-final the Zimbabwe women team beat Botswana 72-28.
The men’s team thrashed Malawi 108-46 on Saturday.
On Monday, the Zimbabwean ladies team outgunned Lesotho 137-18 before they narrowly lost to Angola 46-50.
The men’s team beat South Africa 62-51 before making light work of Swaziland 116-31.
Results:
Women: Mozambique 83, Zimbabwe 43; Angola 62, South Africa 31
Men: Mozambique 70, Zimbabwe 57; Angola South Africa
Fixtures:
Men and Women: Mozambique and Angola
Third and Fourth place play-off:
Men and Women: South Africa vs Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter