The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi Sports Correspondent
MANICALAND’S two basketball players, Moses ‘King Zimo’ Muyambo and Benson ‘Big Ben’ Nyatanga have made the grade and will be part of Zimbabwe’s basketball squad that is set to leave for the 2017th edition of the FIBA World Basketball Games.
This year’s games will be held in Harare from March 19 to 25.
Zimbabwe will be playing against Mozambique, Botswana and Madagascar in Group B, while Angola, South Africa, Zambia and Seychelles are in Group A and will clash in Lusaka, Zambia from Sunday to next Saturday.
Basketball is fast growing in Manicaland as Mercenaries’ coach, Innocent ‘Stoltz’ Sithole, has also been appointed as the national team’s assistant coach.
Muyambo, Mercenaries’ starting point guard, was called again to the national team after splendid displays in a number of tournaments over the past three years.
He has also formed a formidable combination with Nyatanga in the Manicaland provincial team.
Nyatanga used to turn out for Dangamvura Knights and is now playing for Harare City Hornets.
Manicaland Basketball Association spokesperson, Taurai Dhliwayo, confirmed that the two are part of the 22 players selected into the national team for the FIBA Games.
“These two were selected to be part of the 22 players to make the Zimbabwe national team.
“Five players had qualified to be in the Zimbabwe select basketball team, but only two made it into the final team.
“The other three who could not make it are Kudakwashe ‘KP8’ Pote, Tinashe ‘Rimz’ Njovo and Trevor Sanyatwe from Mercenaries and D-Knights, respectively.
“Stenard Mapurisa (former Hillcrest and Mercenaries player) now with Western Cape Mountaineers (South Africa) was also part of the provisional squad, but he could not make it,” said Dhliwayo.
“We feel honoured as a league.
“There is an increase in the number of selected players from this side.
“Last year, only Moses ‘Zimo’ Muyambo qualified for the FIBA competitions, but now we have two representatives,” he added.
Muyambo called for support from all the basketball fans around the province.
“I would like to thank all basketball fans around the province for being there to support and motivate us throughout the year. Now I am appealing to all of you to continue with supporting us as we participate in this year’s FIBA Games.
“I assure you we will show them that there is talent in the eastern border city. We will make you proud. I learnt a lot from last year’s games,” said Muyambo.
