Mizwanya, Reggae Boys reach Nedbank Basketball finals

Mizwanya and Reggae Boys will represent the Southern Region in the national finals of the K700 000 Nedbank Over-35 Basketball Tournament at the Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) next Saturday. The two sides emerged as the best veteran teams last weekend.

Mizwanya, which comprises the likes of Frank Kapesa, Dalitso Tepetheya, Hamilton Justin, Richard Gama and Thoko Chimbali, became regional champions with their 41-27 victory over Reggae Boys and their 46-39 triumph over Giants in 3-team event at BYC last Saturday.

Reggae Boys finished as runner-ups thanks to their 35-32 defeat of the Giants, who lost all their two matches to take the third slot.

However, although the spirited veteran basketball players offered a string of whole-hearted display of skills they employed some years ago, they were persistently caught in the web of ignorance on the new basketball rules such as the three seconds rule.

“It was long time ago when we last played active basketball and we are not aware that some rules have changed over the years,” said Mizwanya’s point-guard Chimbali. “We would probably improve when we get to the national finals next weekend.”

According to Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) vice-president Ben Mlasaanthu each of the country’s three regions is expected to bring two representatives to the national finals that will be spiced-up by music entertainment from 101FM deejays.

Reggae Boys’ team comprised former basketball players such as Harry Mhone, Frank Nakoma, Banthali Banda, Sunganani Mkandawire, Peter Munthali and Thoko Kamangira whereas Giants had Roy Kachale-Banda, Robert Munthali, Joseph Chikwemba, Mulo Thole, Sam Mbalu and Humphrey Kapito.