By GWEN CHIPASULA –
ZAMBIA’S Under-16 boys basketball team stunned pre-tournament favourites, Mozambique 76-57 in their second match at the ongoing FIBA Zone Six African qualifying series at the National Youth Centre in Botswana.
However, luck was not on the girls’ side as they lost their second match 52-71 to Zimbabwe after earlier succumbing to a 32-109 thrashing by Angola.
The boys, who were earlier beaten 53-67 by Zimbabwe in a game they should have won, produced a good performance to shock the Mozambicans.
In the loss to Zimbabwe, the Zambian boys could have easily won had it not been for missing easy lay ups.
By Press time yesterday, the girls were playing South Africa.
The boys will also face South Africa today after being on bye yesterday.
Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) general secretary, Mwembe Kaona said the association was impressed with the boys’ performance and encouraged the girls to continue working hard as they were a team for the future.
The Under-16 African Championships will be held in July with Mali hosting the boys’ event and Madagascar taking care of the girls tournament.
Day Two Results for the FIBA Africa Zone VI Under 16’s
Afro basket Qualifiers
Women: Angola v. South Africa 53-28
Men: South Africa v. Zimbabwe 64-53
Women: Zambia v. Zimbabwe 52-71
Men : Zambia v. Mozambique 76-57
