The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND Basketball Association (MBA)’s efforts to catch them young is paying off as Dangamvura High School and Mutare District National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) teams are scaling dizzy heights in national competitions.
Dangamvura High School won gold for the Under-14 boys’ National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) basketball championships in 2023.
The same year, Mutare District, which represented Manicaland, came second at national NAPH competitions after Harare.
MBA media and publicity officer, Tererayi Matibini, said the good results being posted by Mutare teams in junior basketball competitions is a direct result of the concerted efforts of the association to improve the standards of the game among youngsters.
Matibini said: “This has been due to junior policy programmes in the province spearheaded by Manicaland Basketball Association. Apart from the Dangamvura High School success story, we had the NAPH Mutare District team that was representing Manicaland Province performing very well and settled for silver.
“We will forge ahead with efforts to revive junior basketball, not only in Mutare, but across Manicaland. This will give us less burden as a province in future when we scout for talent for senior teams competitions.”
He added that Dangamvura High School will be hosting this year’s edition of the national Under-14 competitions, and the institution needs assistance to step up their preparations through revamping their courts, secure kits and balls.
“By virtue of them winning the 2023 edition of the competitions, Dangamvura High School will be hosting the 2024 edition of the same competitions.
“The school needs assistance to step up their preparations through revamping their courts, securing kits and balls.
“This is where we passionately appeal to the corporate community to chip in and assist in ensuring that these youngsters reach their level best in their basketball careers,” Matibini said.
The 2024 Under-14 national basketball contest will be held during the second week of September at Dangamvura High School.
The previous Under-14 NASH Tournament was held at Evelyn Girls’ High in Bulawayo.
Led by the gifted Edwin ‘Zhori’ Karimudengu and Lester Mapisa, who was the most valuable player of the tournament and being under the tutelage of the technical team quartet of I-roy Mutsutsururu, ChenaiMaunga, Lean Baud and Tatenda Dhliwayo, Dangamvura High Under-14 team was just a marvel to watch at the 2023 finals.
