Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
UNDER the floodlights of the SunBet Arena, as the roar of 8 000 fans echoed into the Pretoria night, Joyce Muchenu stepped onto the hardwood and into history.
The 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) final may have belonged to Al Ahli Tripoli, who clinched their maiden title with a dominant 88–67 win over Angola’s Petro de Luanda.
But for Zimbabwe, the spotlight was firmly on the woman in the middle, Muchenu, who etched her name into the annals of the game as the first female African referee to officiate a BAL final.
It was not just a personal triumph. It was a national moment, a symbol of how Zimbabwean basketball continues to punch above its weight, off the court, at least.
“I had known about the appointment for about a month before the actual game,” Muchenu said, reflecting on her milestone moment. “But nothing could prepare me for the actual experience.”
Dressed in the iconic black and white, Muchenu was calm, confident and commanding in a contest watched by millions around the world, a game that closed out what many believe to be the most successful BAL season yet.
“The atmosphere was electric,” she said. “I had friends from different parts of the continent come to see me work. The crowd had Zimbabwean fans who screamed my name every now and then. I could hear them. It was amazing.”
The 2025 BAL season shattered records from tip off to final buzzer.
With over 140 000 fans attending the 48 games across four host nations, South Africa, Senegal, Rwanda, and first time hosts Morocco, the tournament continues to expand its footprint on the continent and beyond. BAL’s global reach soared this year, with 2,7 million YouTube views, up 69 percent from the previous season, and coverage spanning 214 countries and territories in 17 languages. Six new teams and two new countries also made their BAL debuts.
Yet beneath the glittering statistics lies a sobering truth for Zimbabwe: no local team has ever qualified for the main competition. JBC, Mercenaries, Foxes and, most recently, Basket Hounds, have all tried and failed.
“We are nowhere near ready for BAL,” Muchenu said bluntly.
She has seen the difference first hand, having officiated across regional, continental and international levels.
“The competition is stiffer. Even the way I officiate has to change. I often have to bring myself down when I’m back home. But there’s room for growth. We need to professionalise, fix the grassroots and put the right people in key positions,” she said.
Her words are not bitter, just honest. They echo the sentiments of many in Zimbabwean basketball, including Basket Hounds head coach Tawanda Nemutambwe, who was also in Pretoria for the final.
“Things get real at BAL,” said Nemutambwe, who watched the finals from the stands.
“People invest a lot in this. It’s not a joke.”
Nemutambwe, affectionately known as Coach Russ, knows exactly what it takes to try and crack the BAL code. His Hounds, the 2024/2025 Harare Basketball Association Super 6 and BUZ National League champions, will have another shot at qualifying through the Road to BAL qualifiers later this year.
Despite the gap in conditioning and resources, Nemutambwe insists Zimbabwe is not completely outmatched.
“The trip to BAL was eye-opening,” he said. “I realised that in terms of raw talent, we’re not that far behind. But where we struggle is in size and physical conditioning, and, of course, finances.”
Funding remains a critical barrier.
“In Zimbabwe, you only get support after achieving something. You have to build with what you have first. Most BAL teams are well-funded; the results speak for themselves.”
Back home, Nemutambwe is not wasting time. Preparations for the next qualifiers start at the end of June.
“We’ll train twice a week,” he said. “Some of our players will take part in the Winter League and college games. That helps with fitness and game time.”
The team also plans to participate in Malawi’s Bravehearts tournament in August and may host a local warm-up tournament as they gear up for Road to BAL 2025/2026, expected to kick off in September.
While he will not reveal any new signings just yet, Nemutambwe did drop one tantalising detail: Zimbabwe basketball icon Vitalis Chikoko will be training with the team during his off-season break.
“It’s every fan’s dream to see Vitah (Chikoko) in a Hounds uniform,” he said with a grin.
“I think he’d love to play too. Unfortunately, we can’t afford him. But he’ll be with us for training, that’s huge.”
As for reinforcements?
“I spoke to a lot of potential new signings in South Africa,” he said. “While I can’t name names, you’ll definitely see some new faces in the squad this year.”
For Muchenu, the historic whistle at the BAL final is not just a personal win; it is a call to action.
Her rise from the Zimbabwean leagues to the biggest stage in African basketball proves what is possible with hard work, perseverance and belief.
“I don’t want to be the last,” she said.
“I hope more Zimbabwean referees, coaches and players make it to this level. The talent is there, we just need to polish it.”
It is a sentiment shared by Coach Russ.
“Our time will come,” he said. “We just need the right preparation, the right support and the right mindset.”
Until then, Zimbabwe watches, learns and slowly inches closer to its own moment in the BAL spotlight.
Online Reporter