Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) has announced plans to resuscitate Malawi National Basketball Teams this year after 14 years of inactivity due to financial constraints.
The teams are set to return to action at a Four-Nation Tournament to be hosted by Lesotho in September.
The men’s team was last in action in 2012 when it competed in the Zone VI Fiba African Qualifiers while the women’s team has been inactive for almost a decade.
Basmal general secretary Peter Gomani confirmed the national teams’ revival in an interview on Tuesday, saying they now have an assurance on financial support from the Malawi National Council of Sports towards national teams’ activities.
He said: “After being inactive for a long time, we are glad that Sports Council has assured us of financial support and for a start, they have committed to fund the teams’ trip to Lesotho.”
Gomani said the Four Nations Tournament will also involve Zimbabwe and Namibia.
On the sustainance of the teams apart from Sports Council’s funding commitment, he said the association’s leadership has also lined up a number of fundraising activities specifically for senior national teams’ revival.
“We have a resource mobilisation plan in place and we will reach out to the corporate world with partnership proposals and we are hoping for a breakthrough because basketball has a big following on the local scene,” said Gomani.
Sports Council board chairperson Jim Kalua in an interview said it is the wish of the council to ensure that all senior national teams are active.
He said: “That is why, as a new board, we are engaging sports associations to see how best we can plan on the way forward.
“Some national teams are indeed not active because of their respective associations’ non-compliance with governance issues, but as a new board, we are engaging them to work out lasting solutions.”
Former men’s national team player Nelson Kanyenda, who was part of the squad which played at the Zone VI Fiba Tournament in South Africa, said it is unfortunate that the national teams have been inactive for that long.
“It is so demotivating on the part of the association, coaches and players to have no active senior national sides in place,” he said.
Basketball legend Daud Suleman, who is considered one of best players to have emerged on the local scene, hailed Basmal for the strides made in restoring senior national teams “because that is the platform elite play is noticed”.
“That is the way to go to restore basketball glory in the country as playing for the national teams also motivates players,” he said.
Meanwhile, Basmal says it has engaged China-based coach Mphatso Zilemba to help in the national teams’ revival process.
In the absence of senior national teams, junior national teams have been taking part in regional tournaments while at club level, national champions Bravehearts have been consistently participating in international tournaments.
