HARARE (Zimbabwe) - Some recognisable faces are returning to the Road to BAL Group E Division East (23-27 October).
Among the players returning to the qualifier tournament for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 5, in Spaniard Alvaro Calvo Masa (main picture), who has featured for a number African clubs, including Mozambique's Ferroviario de Maputo, former Moroccan champions AS Sale and Burundi's Urunani.
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FIBA.basketball interviewed four players who are well versed in the competition and will be suiting up for different teams this year.
INNOCENT ZHOMWA
Captain of the host club - Innocent Zhomwa - will look to set Hounds on the path to success after finding his feet in his debut Road to BAL last year with fellow Zimbabwean side JBC.
“It was pretty amazing. Everything was new. It was competitive and I think it will be just as competitive here at home,” said Zhomwa.
He also looks forward to leading the Hounds on home court.
"It’s an honour (to be captain). It’s amazing to play at home because we will have our supporters in the arena."
MILTON CAIFAZ
Mozambique big man Milton Caifaz is back for his second Road To BAL after last experiencing with Ferroviario de Maputo in 2019.
Caifaz spoke of his excitement at getting a second bite, this time with Costa do Sol.
"It feels great to be back. I have been working hard to comeback. This is a big stage for players in Africa, so it feels good to be back," said Caifaz.
"I would like to get to the BAL and it’s one of the highest levels a player can play in."
SAUL PHIRI
Saul Phiri has expressed his excitement to have reunited with Matero Magic for his third Road to BAL.
He experienced his first campaign with Matero and played for Zimbabwe’s JBC last year.
"I’m super excited to be back with Matero. They brought me to my first Road to BAL. So being back with them is like being at home," said Phiri.
He believes this Road to BAL season is the one where Matero will eventually qualify for the BAL.
"I think this is one. We have been preparing for so long. We have been here before and know which steps to take to move forward," said Phiri.
KESAOBAKA NADAWANYANA
Kesaobaka Ndawanyana knows his team carries the underdog tag, but he has challenged Botswana Defence Force's opponents.
Ahead of his third Road to BAL, Ndawanyana, a former Dolphins player, says he looks forward to seeing familiar faces.
"Meeting guys I played against last year. We are an inexperienced team. Our coaching staff and most of our players have not played at this level," said Ndawanyana.
"What we have in this team is size. We have guys that will give us a good balance of speed and size."
Having tried twice with the Dolphins to get past this phase with no success, can Ndawanyana and BDF V become the first club from Botswana to qualify for the Elite 16?
"I believe so. We have been preparing for the last two weeks. We are injury-free. We are ready to run," said Ndawanyana.
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