EMERGING Zimbabwe basketball giants Harare City Hornets powered to their first international title over the weekend when they clinched the Brave Hearts Invitational Challenge tournament in Lilongwe, Malawi. Led by power forwards Simbarashe Mngomezi and Tatenda Maturure and anchored by Nathan Warikanda, Shonhiwa Ushe and Neville Chivhanyange, they overcame top Zambian outfit NAPSA Hurricanes 81-76 in a thrilling men's final at Mt Sinai Court to win their first gold. They had twice finished as runners-up in previous international assignments in Swaziland and in Bulawayo last year. The "Sting of Excellence" as Hornets are affectionately known, have been on a roll since winning promotion into the Harare Basketball Association's A-League that was characterized by an unbeaten run in the second tier league. Hornets, who are one of a few professionally run basketball clubs in the country, have proved that their record run in the B- League was no fluke by also dominating in the A- League in which they lead such seasoned campaigners like JBC, Hustlers, Raiders, Varsity Leopards and Cameo and look well poised for the HBA championship with five games remaining. Hornets have lost only once on the domestic front -- a surprise defeat to Glen View Rockets in the HBA League Week 21 fixture at Richwood -- that came on the eve of their tour of Malawi and a loss in their opening game at the Lilongwe tournament.The wheels then appeared to have come off unexpectedly for Hornets when they also stumbled to an opening Day defeat in their first game against Malawian outfit Cougars in their group matches. That narrow 28-27 defeat by Cougars sent shock waves in the Hornets dressing room and left a fuming coach Langton "LK" Moyo giving his players a hair-dryer. "After our defeat in the first game, we definitely spoke and told each other unprintable words and it later worked out for us. We do not doubt our talents but sometimes complacency creeps in and up to now I still can't quite understand how we lost to Cougars who eventually could not make it beyond the group stage," Moyo said. Hornets were one of two Harare clubs at the tournament with the other being the youthful Foxes outfit that was eliminated at the group stage. Although they won the trophy with triumph over NAPSA, Moyo admitted that the Zambians had given then tough night in the final. Courtesy of: herald.co.zw
Harare City Hornets Leave for Swaziland - 6 days ago
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Harare City Hornets left the country yesterday for Swaziland for the annual Swazi Invitational tournament in Mbabane, with their captain Dancan Shenje declaring the team was ready to strike gold. The national champions' skipper believes the club is ready this time to better their last year's performance, where they finished as the runners-up in the tournament. Powerhouse Jozi Nuggets won the tourney. "We are ready to atone for our defeat (of) last year [read more]
Harare City Hornets left the country yesterday for Swaziland for the annual Swazi Invitational tournament in Mbabane, with their captain Dancan Shenje declaring the team was ready to strike gold. The national champions' skipper believes the club is ready this time to better their last year's performance, where they finished as the runners-up in the tournament. Powerhouse Jozi Nuggets won the tourney. "We are ready to atone for our defeat (of) last year. "We are better prepared this time around than we were last year. "We are gunning for gold, although I have to acknowledge that the tournament will feature very good sides from the region. "I believe this time around we have to turn the tables and try and win the tournament," said Shenje. Manager Talent Marembe said the tournament will present the club with the right platform to fully prepare for the Africa Club Championships in Botswana in September. "Not taking anything away from the local clubs whom we have faced during the just-ended season, I believe this tournament will be the right platform to fully prepare ourselves for the African Club Championship coming in September. "We are happy to meet some of the best teams from Mozambique, whom we believe will give us something in terms of competition," he said. Hornets lead a quartet of men's clubs and as many female teams from the country at this year's edition of the prestigious regional competition. The council-run club will be joined by JBC, Hustlers and Foxes in the men's pool while Green Stars, Lakers, Vixens as well as Raiders will represent the girl child in the tournament that has attracted teams from Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. Courtesy of: herald.co.zw
8 Zim Clubs for Swazi B/Ball Tourney - 19 days ago
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National champions Harare City Hornets are confident they will grab gold at the 2017th edition of the Swaziland International Invitational tournament from June 23-25 in Mbabane. The council-run club settled for silver after playing second fiddle to Jozi Nuggets of South Africa in the championship last year. But the reigning Harare Basketball A League kings believe they have now come of age. Hornets secretary-general Forster Manezho said his team was raring to go. "We believe this is our y... [read more]
National champions Harare City Hornets are confident they will grab gold at the 2017th edition of the Swaziland International Invitational tournament from June 23-25 in Mbabane. The council-run club settled for silver after playing second fiddle to Jozi Nuggets of South Africa in the championship last year. But the reigning Harare Basketball A League kings believe they have now come of age. Hornets secretary-general Forster Manezho said his team was raring to go. "We believe this is our year and we have already conquered all before us in the local scene. We are quite convinced we will win the Swaziland invitational tournament," he said. "We narrowly lost in the final last year but we are more prepared for this year's edition of the championship. "Every member of our club is keen to play their part and we are confident we will deliver the trophy home. "This is a tournament that we want to win at all costs. We have won every tournament that we were involved in this year and it will only be right we wrap up the season with a podium finish in Swaziland. "We know it is not going to be easy but, for a team to be competitive, they have to win tournaments of this magnitude." Four men's teams and as many women's clubs from Zimbabwe will be part of the jamboree this year. Harare A league runners-up JBC, Hustlers and Foxes will all join Hornets in the men's grouping at the tournament while women's national champions Lakers, Vixens, Raiders and Green Stars will represent the country in the female category. The region's most prestigious invitational tournament has attracted clubs from Malawi, South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Courtesy of: herald.co.zw
Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez (ProA) confirmed in their roster 26-year old Zimbabwean international power forward Vitalis Chikoko (207-91). He played there last season. In 27 ProA games he had 10.1ppg and 4.8rpg. Chikoko ended the previous (2015-16) season at Bayern Muenchen in German BBL where in 15 games he recorded 6.3ppg and 3.3rpg. Chikoko helped them to make it to the semifinals. But the most of that year he spent at Tezenis Verona in Italian Serie A. In 24 games he averaged 8.6ppg,... [read more]
Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez (ProA) confirmed in their roster 26-year old Zimbabwean international power forward Vitalis Chikoko (207-91). He played there last season. In 27 ProA games he had 10.1ppg and 4.8rpg. Chikoko ended the previous (2015-16) season at Bayern Muenchen in German BBL where in 15 games he recorded 6.3ppg and 3.3rpg. Chikoko helped them to make it to the semifinals. But the most of that year he spent at Tezenis Verona in Italian Serie A. In 24 games he averaged 8.6ppg, 7.9rpg and 1.4bpg. He has tried to make it to the NBA and played in the NBA Pro Summer League in 2013. The list of the past achievements is quite long as among others Chikoko was voted Afrobasket.com All-African Championships 2nd Team in 2015. He also represented Zimbabwe at the Afrobasket Championships in Rades (Tunisia) two years ago. His stats at that event were 5 games: 13.4ppg, Reb-4 (8.8rpg), 1.2apg, Blocks-1 (3.2bpg), FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 64.7%. Chikoko has played previously professionally in Germany (Gladiators, BG Goettingen and ASC 46 Goettingen) and Italy (Grissin Bon RE). On Chikoko:
A talented, lanky forward/center who has a huge upside. Even stanging almost 6-10, he can spend yet time at the PF position, thanks to enormous athletic skills, versatility, and good feel for the game. His long arms allow him to be a good defender and shot blocker.
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