Bravehearts win silver in Zim

Bravehearts Ladies team did Malawi proud in Zimbabwe by winning silver in the Harare Mayor Invitational Basketball Challenge at the weekend.

Apart from Malawi, the tournament attracted teams from six other countries, namely South Africa,  Botswana,  Namibia,  Zambia,  Tanzania and hosts Zimbabwe.

Malawi was represented by six teams. Cougars and Bravehearts sent two teams each in the ladies and men’s categories but there were also Central Knights and Lady Dynamites.

In men’s category, Bravehearts and Cougars bowed out in group stages whereas Central Knights managed to reach the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by Harare City Hornets.

In the ladies category,  Central Knights and Lady Dynamites were eliminated in group stages but Bravehearts managed to reach the finals and lost 45-54 to Weekend Squad from South Africa.

The road to the finals saw Bravehearts sweep aside Matero Magic from Zambia  43-37.

“Had it not been for experience and exposure of the South African team, we could have won gold. At half time, we were leading 26-25 but they came in strong in the last quarter and we just couldn’t match them. But I am proud of what we have achieved,” said Bravehearts Lasungu Banda-Moyo in a telephone interview from Harare on Monday.

Bravehearts duo Aisha Ali and Joyce Mvula were named in the All -Stars because of their outstanding contributions to the team’s success.

Last weekend, they also won the Queen of the Court National tournament.

Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) has since hailed Bravehearts Ladies team for their exploits in Harare.

Said Basmal general secretary Edgar Ng’ong’ola: “It’s a great achievement, we salute them because it is no mean achievement considering that most of the teams that took part are well exposed.” n