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MBABANE JAZZ BEST SWAZI TEAM IN SIIBT

30/06/2016 01:18:00 BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO

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MBABANE – Mbabane Jazz were the better performing Swazi team during the three-day International Basketball tournament.

The capital city basketball giants were knocked out in the semi-finals by MBB, losing 43- 62.
Other local teams, including Imbumbe, Superstars, and Super Ladies were ousted from the tournament in the group stages. The tournament was won by South African side Jozi Nuggets in the men’s section while in the ladies category; V & J also from South Africa were crowned champions.

The Swaziland National Basketball Association (SNBA) President, Nhlanhla Maphanga, said the only way the country can learn is to play against the bigger teams. We are excited that some of the biggest teams playing in South Africa and Zimbabwe were here and part of the tournament. We learnt a lot from these teams. We were exposed, which is a good thing because there is no way we can know where we stand if we avoid playing against the big guns. For instance, it was clear that our teams do not have enough players. Each team should register 15 to 20 players. Our teams were fatigued and could not match these other sides with larger pools of players to choose from,” he said.

National Sport and Recreation Council (SNSRC) Media Officer Dumisani Ntiwane lauded the SNBA for hosting the first of its kind International Basketball Tournament. The tournament attracted a total of 31 teams from the different countries in the region. The team came from countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Malawi.

“The SNBA did a wonderful job in hosting this inaugural and historic tournament, which has surely placed the country on the map. Such a tournament has not been hosted in any country in the region and we are proud that we have become the first to host it. The Council would like to congratulate the association and their partners for ensuring that it was a great success, despite the fact that no local side managed to clinch the trophy.