Fiba expert helps Malawi prepare for Zone VI

Senegalese basketball expert Ado Sano, is in Blantyre for the second phase of his mission to help prepare Malawian basketball players for international competitions such as Zone VI Games.

In an interview at the Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) on Thursday, the man on the Federation of International Basketball (Fiba) assignment gave a candid audit of Malawi basketball.

“Although not well developed, youngsters love the game. The problems facing Malawi basketball are common in Africa such as limited resources and infrastructure. There are only senior team competitions and nothing for the youth,” said Sano.

Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) technical director Obed Nyirongo and national coach Blair Phiri thanked the Senegalese Basketball Association technical director for bringing a new dimension to coaching.

“He is helping us on zone penetration. We are good at defending but not attack. He is helping us with offensive techniques,” Nyirongo said at the BYC.

The national coach said players being trained across the regions, including 10 from Mzuzu, would form a pool from which to pick the junior national team next year.

Sano also conducted a similar training in Lilongwe involving 15 players and seven coaches.

Blantyre coaches learning from the Senegalese master are Hope Chisamanga, Wellington Mwafulirwa, Robert Munthali, Nyirongo, Chikondi Magomero and Noel Mussa.

Malawi Olympic Committee has funded the training to the tune of K3 million ($18 000), according to Basmal vice-general secretary Dalitso Tepetheya.