Amawheelaboys claim second wheelchair basketball victory against Zimbabwe in Tongaat
The best wheelchair basketball teams on the continent are battling it out for the only African spot in the World Championships.
Fresh from losing their opening two games at the start of the IWBF Africa World Championship Qualifiers, the South African senior men’s wheelchair basketball national team dug deep to clinch a vital win against Zimbabwe last night (Tuesday).
With the knowledge that a spot at the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Germany is hanging by a thread, the Amawheelaboys, as they are affectionately known, defeated Zimbabwe 61-36 in a hard fought and sometimes very bruising encounter at the Tongaat Sports Centre.
The Amawheelaboys were quick to get going in this must-win encounter and deservedly went into the break leading 27-17. The Zimbabwean’s attempted a fight back in the third quarter, coming within five points of the South Africans but that is as close as they got.
The fourth quarter saw the South Africans move up an extra gear and the Zimbabweans could not keep up as they had nothing left in the tank. Amawheelaboys executed and defended better and deservedly claimed this crucial victory on day four of this tournament.
Prior to tip-off, South African captain Cecil Dummond was also presented with a special jersey for playing in his 100th match for the national team.
Also read: Africa’s wheelchair basketball stars to duke it out in Tongaat this weekend
Both the men’s and women’s teams will be in action on day five of the tournament, the Amawheelaboys will take on the slick Algerians and the dangerous Angolans, while the ladies will be confident of victory when they meet Kenya in their last match of the group stages.
The Sasol sponsored national teams are looking to clinch Africa’s sole berths at the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Germany. The qualifying tournament is being held at the Tongaat Sports Centre and will conclude on Friday, 24 November 2017.
South Africa’s Senior National men’s team are competing in a pool that includes Morocco, Angola, Kenya, Algeria, Zimbabwe and Egypt; while the women’s pool comprises South Africa, Algeria, Morocco and Zimbabwe.
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