05/07/2025
GRIT AND DETERMINATION: ZAMBIA'S 3x3 TEAMS SHINE AT REGION 5 YOUTH GAMES
By Wendson Mavoro
The 3x3 men's national basketball team won Zambia's first gold medal at the Region 5 Youth Games in Windhoek, Namibia.
In their first game, the boys, led by Coach Davis Zulu, defeated hosts Namibia 16-10.
The boys lost to Angola by two points in their second game (10-8), but recovered to defeat neighbouring Malawi 10-7 in the semi-finals.
The finals were a moment of reckoning for Zambia, as they defeated basketball powerhouse Angola by a single point (11-10).
The road to 3x3 glory was not as smooth for the girls who demonstrated character and determination despite facing numerous challenges during preparations.
The girls started their campaign with a strong performance, defeating hosts Namibia 13 - 2, but fell short by two points (16 - 14) in their second game against Angola.
They recovered and defeated Mozambique 14-12 to advance to the semifinals, where sibling rivalry would kick in against Malawi.
The girls defeated Malawi comfortably 20-8 and advanced to the finals, where South Africa narrowly won by two points (12-10).
Under-16 National Team Head Coach Noah Mabutwe described the girls' back-to-back silver medals as a proud moment for Zambia.
"I am so proud of these girls; competing with countries like Angola and Mozambique, which have the best basketball programs on the continent, is no small feat," Mabutwe stated.
Meanwhile, 3x3 National Director Robert Munatamba, who is pleased with the performance of both girls and boys, has pledged to continue improving 3x3 at the grassroots level.
"We will begin capacity building initiatives among our coaches, and we plan to hold more camps and games now that we have a 3x3 floor and a game clock," Munatamba stated.
