Vusumuzi Dube
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe women’s basketball team was again no match for Angola who won the return leg of the Afro-basket qualifier between the two sides 89-38 at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair yesterday.
Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique and Zambia are battling for the sole ticket to the women’s Afro-basket quadrennial finals to be played from 28 July and 6 August in Kigali, Rwanda.
South Africa and Malawi pulled out of the tournament. The four remaining sides play each other twice before the two top teams meet in Tuesday’s final. Having lost to Mozambique and Angola twice, Zimbabwe are now playing for the bronze medal which they must attain by winning against Zambia today.
The first encounter between Angola and Zimbabwe ended in a heavy 105-41 defeat for the home team.
In that game, Zimbabwe struggled against the tall Angolans who exploited Zimbabwe’s height deficiencies. It was the same in the second game. Yesterday, Tadiwa Mabika was Zimbabwe’s top performer with 13 points. Angola had Cacia Antonio contributing 16 points to their total.
Zimbabwe national team captain Mary Chawayipira said the tournament is a learning experience for the whole team.
“We are a young side which is still learning. It was always going to be difficult for us to beat Angola.
We know how good they are. But if you look at the two games we have played them you can see there is some improvement in how we are playing. We look forward to having a strong finish against Zambia,” said Chawayipira. The ladies side has only managed a single win in the competition, a 69-57 victory over Zambia in their opening game.
Meanwhile, the men’s side have a big chance of making it to Tuesday’s final in the Afro-Can qualifiers also happening at the ZITF. They have won two of their three games and face Mozambique in their last pool game this evening. Zimbabwe defeated Zambia 71-53 on Friday evening. — Follow on Twitter @innocentskizoe
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter