Midlands Basket Association’s (MidBA) Falcons Club was humbled in the Zambia International Invitational Basketball Tournament where they only won one game from all their matches in the five country tournament.
By Delicious Mathuthu
Falcons were the only Midlands team and joined by four other men’s teams from Harare while four ladies teams from Harare and Bulawayo were traveling as well.
The Falcons began their campaign in the group stages against Zambia’s Munali Suns where they lost 88-29 just before losing to Lunga Bullets from Zambia again by just 11 points ending 36-25.
The Midlanders lost to their fellow Zimbabweans from Harare, the Foxes, 87-67 in the final game of the group stage.
In the round of sixteen, Falcons were outsmarted by Zambia’s Hawks 79-54.
Falcons managed to salvage a last match victory in the tournament in the positioning stage where they dismissed Nishati Denvers 20-0.
MidBA Secretary General, Mathew Tumbare said the Falcons were not that bad and they learnt a lot from the tournament.
“The tournament was very good, we played well though we lost most of the games but we got notes from the games and will work on a lot to improve our game back on our league,” he said.
Tumbare said the tournament was a five nations’ tournament and was played for three days. He said Falcons were using the Invitational Tournament to prepare for the National Basketball League starting in April.
“Assassins, Foxes, JBC and Raiders from Harare traveled with Falcons on the trip while Lady Lynx, JBC and Raiders from Harare with Lakers from Bulawayo traveled from the ladies side,” he said.
“This is the first International Invitational Tournament for Zambia and was well prepared with teams from Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Botswana taking part.”
Tumbare said the Midlands team went into the tournament for gaining experience.
“Falcons were going there for the exposure. We are going towards our own National League end of April so we wanted to be prepared and these big competitions are a good platform to measure ourselves,” Tumbare said.
He said the club is faced with resource challenges but the players sacrificed to be able to take part in the tournament.
“As a club it is financially taxing because we are forking-out from our own pockets but we will work out as we go. Out of their hearts, players managed to source the little they can to make the trip,” he said.
