SA team 2009 qualifiers update from Moz…
Here is a quick update regarding the SA national team qualifiers for the African Championship to be held in Lybia. They played on Monday 30 March 2009 against Zimbabwe in their first game and they won. Final score SA 68 – 58 Zimbabwe… Their next game is on wednesday…
More to scores follow….
Moz Update
Woke up quite early yesterday morning for breakfast with all the players full of excitement waiting to get their first game under way.The weather down here is really hot and most of the day was spent indoors sleeping or watching TV.Alot of work has been put in and we hoping that we can come away with a victory but most importantly play well.Zimbabwe are looking very confident and I believe that the reason is that they had lost by 1 in the last encounter against them
Game Time
The game started off real scrappy with both teams throwing the ball away on many positions but eventually we start getting a number of easy backdoor cuts and fouls called in our favour.There is not much action but we are able to win the first quarter 17 -10.
Zimbabwe had started off in a 2-3 zone and we were able to get in some easy baskets and they go in to a full court man trying to pressure Nhlanhla but they fished in the wrong sea this time.Our biggest problem was that we never looked to attack their pressure but looked more to break it instead.A number of chances were missed to convert easy baskets becasue of this mentality.Zimbabwe were smelling a come back and started Crashing the boards.
South Africa was playing good defense ensuring that they continue to keep Zim off the foul line but Boxing out was not evident with Zim getting 10 offensive rebounds in the first half alone.Zim rallied at the end but key 3 pointers from Neo and Brandon ensured we win a close 2nd Quarter 18 -14 making it a 35 – 24 half time lead.
Our first half performance gave Zim the hope that they could come back and we reverted to our starting line-up of Nhlanhla,Neo,Tsakane,Q and Nyakallo.YES NYAKS at the 5.He was phyiscally bigger than all the Zim players but could only manage 2 points inside.We put a lot of pressure on the zim players and started to pick them full court but had to revert back to our half court game as we only 1 point guard with the injury of Sfiso who was rushed to hospital to have a scan on his eldow.
Zim continuosly crashed the boards and scored crucial baskets just as we thought that we were pulling away.Kenneth ”Tuka” was begginng to get his groove going as some of our players looked nervous and we ended winning the 3rd quarter 21 – 15.The coaching staff was pushing that we play even harder in the fourth and we ensure that we have a mental edge against Zim going into our second game against them but that wasnt the case.
Zim happened to get some of the energy that you associate with Dwade. Crashing the boards once more,stealling balls on top of the key,blocking shots,diving for balls and making SA to play their game.Fortunately for us the time was against them and we went away with a 10point lead.
STATS DONT LIE
SA shot 67.6% of field Goals,30% 3 point and 59.1% on Free Throws.The biggest worry was the 25 turnovers we made and being outrebounded by 27 -19.Zim eventually got 12 offensive rebounds due to a lack of desire and boxing out.Neo topped scored with 15 and Tuka contributing with 12 but the biggest worry was that Eric Banda from Zim got 20 unnoticed points due to his steals and easy baskets.
Coaching Adjustments
With the first 5 not feeling so comfortable and injury to Sfiso,we had to get Nyakalo to play the 1 so as to rest Nhlanhla.Neo is currently injured and a such didnt play him the minutes he deserved especially that he was our top player for the game.We exprimented on a number of combinations and we believe that we have our best line-up for the Moz game.
We just came from practice where we worked on numerous aspects that we did bad on and some that we did well on.The players are feeling good irrespective of the mistakes we made and this might be that this was the REAL 1st game that we have had since camping at mandeville.
We will watch the Zim game tonite as we have an off day and we look to make SA proud tommorrow as we take Moz at 7pm….
TILL THEN……..
VIVA MZANSI VIVA
Thanx Kim, well written!
Keep us posted!
Our hearts and minds are out there with you. Its all about the Gold!
Thanks Kim. Great article. Some rudimentary reverse engineering says that SA shot 2 of 7 from the 3, 25 of 37 from the 2 and had 12 of 21 from the free throw line. If that is anywhere near correct then we must have rebounded better than the stats people credited SA (or had more turnovers) and there must have been plenty “basket and 1” calls.
Good luck for tonight and looking forward to your further updates.
Oh, and tell Sfiso to get out and play – for all the campaigning you did for him he owes you a good game. Haha!
VIVA MZANSI!
Well word most probably went out on the Day 3 procedings where SA played Moz but I will focus on Day 2 and give inputs on Day 3 later on today.
DAY 2
We once again went through the video of the game between ourselves and Zim. We (coaching Staff) wanted to drill in the aspect of Boxing out and some key issues that will make a difference against our next opponent. We decide to give the guys a break and have a trip to one of the nearby Islands. Unfortunately I am unable to attend as my mind is not here as I got bad news that one of my player’s passed away. I lock myself in for an hour or 2 and await an interview with kaya Fm at 5h30pm.
The team comes back and I have pumped myself to ensure that I make Alice proud because she was one of the players that made sure I am with CUT and crying wont help anything but more important is me helping the team in any way I can.
6h45pm.We head off to the game between Zim and Moz. The drive to the game is a mere 7 to 8 minutes to the stadium and you can see that players are anxious to see how Moz will play. Immediately as we enter the street you realize that something is happening around here. Unlike the previous day, you can feel a buzz in the air. Street Vendors are there selling anything and everything. Ministers, ballers, TV, Music etc. Basketball has come to town. As you enter the Stadium you get to sense that you are in Mozambique. No more stories, this is the real deal. People trickle in one by one. There is a A4 paper printed that informs supporters of the R10 charge to watch.
GAMETIME
Everyone watching knows that Zim are MAJOR underdogs and seeing them do layups, you kinda think that they really wouldn’t play in the Premier league of the GBL but as the game starts you see things that are mindboggling. Moz is enjoying the 1000+ support that they have and quickly go on a 7-2 run with fastbreaks being the order of the day.Zim is playing a 2-2-1 zone…….YES ZONE.I have never seen this in my life and as they continue playing I understand why I WILL NEVER play it. Moz get open shots on every offense with Zim defenders running hard to cover ALL those open shots. Funny enough Zim hang in there with those bank shots from the 3 point range that just seem to go in. Moz wins the 1st Quarter 18-10.
2nd Quarter
People seem to continuously enter and as I look above me I notice that this crowd is bigger than the Zim vs SA game on Day 1.I count 5 TV cameras and numerous camera man courtside.1500 is what I seem to estimate but they keep coming in.Zim has realized that their zone will NEVER work and go to full court pressure on Gervson Novela(#14) they do a better job but they just too small inside and Moz keep pounding and grinding that ball inside.Moz is looking comfortable and the MC is helping with chants of MOZAMBIQUE in between timeouts. Moz get 6 crucial offensive rebounds with baskets a surety.
I am still surprised that the score is still about 37 – 20 because Zim should have been down 50 at this stage.Zim lose the 3rd 19 -10.
Halftime
As I move outside I realize this is a carnival.People are chatting and the clubhouse is open with VIP’s having some drinks and the locals excited about the game.As I move back inside I note that we moving to around 2000 supporters and one or two more cameraman have arrived. Zim come out flying like they did against SA. They are diving, rebounding and they hit on some key out of bounds plays. The play called ‘NBC ‘seems to be giving Moz problems. This is where I and Coach Kita realize that Moz has a problem with screens. Backdoor are major headaches for them, so you know what we need to do tomorrow?!?!
I have given Zim the nickname ‘SAMURAI WARRIORS’. They have the worst kit,worst tracksuits,no bus,No fancy takkies but no team compares to their HEART and DESIRE. If bra Bob Mugabe was here, I tell you that each would get a farm. They rattle Moz to a point that Moz has to play a ZONE.ZONE…..against ZIM?!?!The high pick and Roll seems to have got Moz in all sorts of problems as they don’t know whether to switch or show on the screens. The Refs starting calling some questionable calls against the WARRIORS and that gives MOZ a chance to come back. Considering that Zim was 12 – 7 up in the quarter they mite have felt hard done by with Moz ending the quarter with a 8 – 3 run to end the quarter.
The quarter ends with both teams scoring 15 points each
FINISH LINE
As the quarter starts you get to sense that Moz wants to finish this early.Andre Velasco (Moz #4) has come off the bench and is running the point as if he owned that team. He sees players wide open, drives with purpose and the only thing we can hope for is that Sfiso will be fit to help Nhlanhla on this guy. We writing notes and taping the game and by the time 6 minutes were left the game was over. Zim was pressed non-stop with some athletic stuff from the Moz team. The crowd has taken over and one can imagine what that court will sound when half full. At the end its more like the globetrotters playing, with Moz showing off and winning the 4th 22 – 6.
STATS CITY
Moz – 20/29(69%)FG 7/20(35%)3 Point FG 13/25(52%)FT
Zim – 10/26(38.5)FG 5/12(41.7%)3 Point FG 6/13(46.2)FT
Moz has been able to keep Zim off the boards whilst limiting their shots.They put up 49 shots which means that we will have to contain them and not allow uncontested shots.Andre,Jeronimo and Custodio contribute 13,14 and 8 points respectively for Moz with Eric Banda(AGAIN) being the only player for Zim over double digits. Final score 74 -41.Moz is on a high and we head back to the hotel when a Msg comes in from The President, Coach Flosh and Coach Craig………We all can guess what the msg’s sounded like!!!!Wallop those Mozambiquans.
Its game time 2moro and myself and Coach K go thru the game just watched and start planning for the next day……
Thanks again Kim. We the technicians love these types of analyses…backdoor cuts…layups…screens…pick and rolls..2-2-1 zones..etc. Love it – wish we were there.
Are the games sloppy (i.e. lots of turnovers) or are the stats people not keeping up? In a game with a 24secs clock you will have a minimum of 100 possessions. Each possession ends with a shot, free throw or a turnover. If Moz took 49 shots and one assumes that 25 free throws were off 15 possessions then what happened to the other 36+ possessions? That many turnovers?
Cannot wait to read your article later on. Did we WIN big?
Kim
my condolences to you and the CUT bball family. hope everyone will keep going strong day by day.
thanks for all the stats and updates . its a great feeling to know that we are doing great down there. big up to the team as a whole and keep the good work.
Molupe
Coach,the biggest issue this game was that Zim played their 2-2-1 and thus they were not in position to take those rebounds.The table is quite slow in taking stats and they are 80% correct in their stats taking.I think they spend more time watching and SUPPORTING Moz.There are soo many turnovers because of numerous factors.One,the court is tiles and there is some tiles that are out and hence sfiso’s injury.2,there is no aircon and with that hall not even half-full I sweat like no mans business and so the ball gets very wet and so do the hands.
We won by 2 after being down 8 but will try send something in before 3pm.The game was so hectic that we happened to lose our stats and the moz people were playing games with us and we left the hall after Coach K’s interview.Am trying to get the stats and will send ASAP.
We play ZIM today…..
VIVA MZANSI VIVA
Baller
Thanx man.We will be strong man and I wish I could make the funeral but cant.Thanx to the basketball family(u included) for the endless support that we have being receiving.The players that didnt make the team keep wishing us well and thats the greatest feeling ever.We will continue to ensure we improve.
Oh man what a night, We are working on 50% effeciency now and we looking to get it up to 80% tonight then go 150% on Saturday.
Peace
Let the good times roll! Do not let up against Zim! Two more games – 80 minutes of basketball. Aluta continua!
VIVA MZANSI!
HOla Hola Mzanzi Spank em hard!!
All I want to say is: Shosholoza kulezontaba ….
We wake up and go for a much needed breakfast and get players to rest for an hour before we head of to our first video session.We take the players through the Zim vs Moz game and try show what Moz did badly vs what Zim did well.We illustrate the different plays that Moz have on the Man and Zone. We have a funny feeling that Moz is not comfortable in the zone and we MIGHT test them in the 3rd Quarter.
After our tape jams and re-jams we decide to leave for our 10h30 practice. As we arrive we get to meet our opponents on the quarter and you know that ‘ITS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG’. Mind games begin with Moz spending a minute or 2 more than scheduled. Tuka decides to enter the court and start shooting on the opposite hoop and in no time the court is ours. We work on ALL the Moz plays whilst touching on adjustments on our side (I CANT TELL U YET).
The team manager and Chief De Mission go through town trying to get a snack for the players so as to have a late lunch which will enable us to be light on our feet later on. Sfiso seems to be fine although we rested him and Neo during our practice session earlier on.
Lunchtime and 1 more video session on a last minute innovation from the coaching staff is made.I will tell you that the innovation wasn’t a bright one from us as it ALMOST back fired on us.
We got onto our COMFORTABLE bus and ENSURED that we didn’t listen to Bukiwe from Joyous Celebration because that got us down against Zim as many players started thinking of their sins.DMX,CYPRUS HILL take us to the court.I am not used to listening to hip-hop to games but normally sing but I guess this is what works for OUR team.We get there at 6pm and already you can hear the music pumping. This time we have some SA house playing mixed with Moz local sound.
GAMETIME
The people in the indoor seem to be less than yesterday and I am smiling to myself.I smiled too early. By the time the game ended we had triple more people than the previous day. We talking about 6000+ people. Today we go for a different line-up…Nhlanhla,Neo,Q,Linda and Thabang.We feel that Linda and Thabang gave us a strong looks when they played together.
The crowd is hyped up and we can feel that they going to be a problem if not contained.Moz start questioning Sfiso’s papers and likely we have ALL those issues in check as they trying anything and everything to disrupt us.
1st Quarter
The game begins with both teams trying to control the tempo.No one from mzansi is making aggressive moves to the basket but able to hang on early.As we start to settle in we get another disruption.Some old man behind us is playing with us.Calling us names and all the sorts.I am officially ASSIGNED the task of taking care of him.Words fly between me and him and constantly having to ignore stats taking because of this old man.The crowd seems to be laughing at everything this guys says and I begin using some Xhosa just to ensure he keeps.Meanwhile the game is now settled down and we have some good drives and GREAT boxing out on our part.Rebounds are coming to us and we looking to run that break.The old man starts swearing us now and coach K is really not feeling this guy.Stats are now a thing of the past and its one on one between me and this guy.The team is informed not to worry about him and just concentrate on the game.Our main teaching points during the camp until now has been PLAYING THROUGH ADVERSITY and this is our real test.Q and Neo hit some good 3 pointers that seem to get us going before Moz coming back and tieing the 1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
The one on one between myself and the old men is continuing and I see that I am getting to him as I no longer a using English but the Xhosa trick is working. He is getting red in the face and the wife is trying to stop him from entertaining. ADVANTAGE MZANSI. Meanwhile on the court we get to realize that we are playing in Moz.Tuka gets a elbow in front of the Angolan ref and he just indicates that the game should go on.15 secs down the line they stop the game and we have another injury to our list. We sometimes think that we running a rehab center.During this time Nyaks comes on and gives us a MAJOR boost.He hits open shots,good passes.Key rebounds and seems like he is possesd.Neo is not his usual self but you know he will show up.
Moz and SA are trading baskets and both teams cant be separated.That was until we forgot to help on the backdoor screen and the Moz player went flying and received an alley hoop from #4.This is something that we didn’t want. The crowd was on its Feet (including my dear old man).The roar was deafening; I couldn’t even hear myself think. Now reality was sinking that we were playing away from home.moz got this sense of hope until Nyaks once again showed what we were made off. Sfiso and nhlanhla continued to close out their PG’s whilst making sure Moz didn’t benefit from any turnovers.Fouls were coming against us and we knew that we couldn’t be far behind Moz now.
3rd Quarter
My old man had left just before halftime and I figured that he needed his pills cos of all the trash talking we were going through.In a way I was happy as well cos this was going to be a tight game and I needed Coach K to know what we were doing on the court.Stats were no longer a priority.Tactics and subs were the order of the day.We continuosly made changes to ensure that we kept the game close.Moz were pulling away and we knew that once they got a 10 point lead it would be difficult to come back.Just as people were beginning to forget Neo,out he came out of his shell. Fighting for boards, hitting J’s and motivating the way he knows best.
We can smell a comeback and Thabo ‘spiderman’ is pumping up the guys even though he hasn’t even got to touch the ball(besides during warmup).Mzansi is getting rebounds but the refs still blowing AGAINST us instead of blowing the game.The other 2 refs are fine but that 1 ref from Angola is killing us.We not surprised though cos it’s the second time myself and Coach Kita have experienced his referrering.World Student Games was the first time he got us.
4th Quarter
Nyaks has got into foul trouble,so has sfiso and a couple of our guys.The refs seem not be calling fouls and the one ref called 4 fouls ALL on Thabang.So Thabang is out and Linda is looking to follow him soon.We keep making plays through sharing the ball and hitting the open man.Neo was on hand to finish what Nyaks had started.The crown started playing their part,Shouting and clapping in EVERY possession.We haven’t played spiderman yet and we decide that his time has come. He gets in and have a line-up of Neo,nhlanhla,Linda and Tuka.Neo is a beast and seems like no one can stop him.
Moz are shaken up and they call their final time-out.We are know that they are going to press and we go to the pressbreaker that we have been working on the past week and a half.It works but we happen to throw the ball away and Moz capitalize.Myself and Kita are both standing and looking at the time and choices to make.Sfiso is the obvious option to come in and assist nhlanhla bring up the ball. He is ICE COLD cos we haven’t played him since the beginning of the 3rd Quarter. We up by 2 at this stage with about 1min11sec left and figure we play on the 2.Everything changes in a couple of seconds after breaking the press they steal the ball and a THUNDOROUS dunk brings the house alive.
At this stage both teams we call our last timeout and get a scorer in and Sfiso sits.Tsakane gets in and Q.We down 1 with 24 seconds left.18 secs left on the clock and we playing in Moz half having to put the ball in.We call our last time-out and draw up a play that will get Q or Neo open for the shot.Q drives and sees a half open Neo who catches and hits the shot with the Moz guy all over him….NO FOUL…………BASKET GOOD.The crowd no longer booing but is shocked.They still have 10 secs though and SPIDERMAN gambles for a steal which he gets but unable to hold on.
Moz have no time-out and they have to play.They get the ball to number 4 who drives but Nhlnhla has him in check.He decides to throw a prayer but misses.We don’t get the rebound but our ref calls a foul on us AGAIN.2 free throws….2 secs left.Number 13 shoots the first ……..He MISSES.He shoots the second and misses once more.The clock doesn’t start but luckilier we get the rebound and the ball is thrown to Tsakane.The clock still haven’t moved.Tsakane decides to throw the ball in the air about 10metres high and the clock starts only when the ball comes down.The Clocks sounds and the game ends on that dramatic note.
COKE 10 rands,Sofa R10000……Clutch shooting…….PRiCELESS
Kim,
So all this recording that you guys are doing, will we get to also enjoy and share in the excitement? Put it on disc or something and we can all share later. Good luck tonight and on Saturday. Seems like Saturday will be a BIG day. Good luck and all the best to the team.
Now I better understand Neo’s what a night comment.
Zim dead and buried now Moz turn.. SA working for 150% effeciency.
You cant stop the sun from shining.
Day 4
The excitement of the Moz game is a thing of the past.7h30am everyone is at the bus and we ready for our training session.We didn’t handle the press well and transition defense…
Here are the stats of that Game
MOZ – 18/33 (54.5%)FG 6/17 (35.3%)3 point FG 14/29(48.3%)FT
SA – 16/23(69.6%) FG 10/14(71.4%)3 Point FG 8/16(50%)FT
1st Quarter SA 15 Moz 15 2nd Quarter SA 18 Moz 20 3rd Quarter SA 16 Moz 17 4th Quarter SA 21 Moz 16
Immediately you get to see that we allowed Moz a lot of shots. The biggest problem was that we were passive once again and we hoping that we don’t give Zim a chance.We not attacking the basket for any rebounds but 1 offensive rebound is just terrible.We turned the ball 31 times…….31.
Game Day vs Zim
Today is VERY nice cos we have approximately 20 people at the game. That includes the table officials.No TV no cameras just basketball.We have a number of british tourists at the game but we have reinforced with Tsepo Nyewe….Zanele Papa needed someone to assist.
1st Quarter
The guys mean business and you can see it on their faces.Game faces are on check.1st 5…Nhlanhla,Neo,Tuka,Q and Thabang.No ladies and gentleman this is not the Vaal team but it surely bring back some memories.We are on a role.Tuka’s assignment is Eric Banda.We close him out and we win BIG.Tuka is on him and things look good.For the first we running fastbreaks and connecting as well.Neo scores the 1st 7 points and we happy cos we want to rest him for Saturdays game.We attack and box out. We giving Zim nothing.4 points in 7 minutes.We end the first quarter hard and the quarter ends 20 – 6 to MZANSI
2nd Quarter
The guys are looking focused. Eric is not in the game,he cant buy a basket let alone receive the ball. Thabo and Tuka are doing a great job on Eric and we running the break. Cedric receives an alley hoop from thabo and now we are in cruise control. Nhlanhla is hustling the PG and stealing the ball like he was pick pocketing a 6 year old. Zim hasn’t scored in 7 minutes. Its amazing what one win against Moz can do to a team confidence. Zim did eventually score and the quarter ended 24 – 6.
3rd Quarter
I remember reporting that Zim players were warriors, well they were not in attendance in the first half.The 3rd was a totally different story. The must have drank RED BULL cos they were up and down that court.THEY PRESSED SA the whole 3rd quarter. We started looking shaky once more despite having gone through the PRESSBREAKER AGAIN this morning.We connect on some passes but we waiting for the ball and not attacking it.Zim seem to be on DRUGS and Eric Banda is back. Getting offensive rebounds,getting fouled and being a MONSTER. They win the quarter 25 -16.
4th Quarter
Its very important that we win this quarter so as to have confidence going into the moz game. We rest Neo,Q,Nhlanhla,Nyaks cos they all carrying injurys.We decided to rest Linda the whole game.S fiso is injured. Tuka has a blue eye from yesterday. Brandon had flu and now thabo’s knee is bust……WE RUNNING BARA HOSPITAL OVER HERE. The guys keep playing hard and in no time we back to our game. Cedric gets a open dunk and that gets the guys rolling again .We have time to go through our plays and able to coach easier cos of the lack of supporters in the stadium.The crowd is about 40 now due to the Moz team coming to watch the end of the game.
We win the 4th 22 – 14
FINAL SCORE – 82 -51.
STATS CITY
SA – 26/33 (78.8%) FG 6/15 (40%) 3 point FG 12/32(37.5%) FT
Zim- 19/41 (46.3%) FG 0/4(0%) 3 point FG 13/29(44.8%) FT
We out-rebounded zim 37 – 25 but they got 12 offensive rebounds and that’s a concern. We turned the ball over26 times. Thats not good. The great thing for today is we had 20 assists. This is great because the guys were sharing the ball better than the past 2 games. We pressured on the ball and at the top and thus only 4 shots from Zim on the 3 point line.
Tomorrow is our last day to make the final adjustments and we meet Moz in the Final on Saturday. We have 2 days to work on our weak points.
TIME TO GO TO WORK
Note:Everyone contributed on the floor and we happy about that.We were terrible on the Free Throw line and need to improve when we meet Moz on Saturday.
KEEPING BALLING……VIVA MZANSI VIVA
wish you all the best for the Moz game. hope you give Tsepo a vuvuzela to sort out the old man. he should just blow it into his ears and things will be sorted.
keep up the good work.
You Guys are making us proud, keep rolling and Kim your updates are superb, i feel like im rite there watching, This is what BBall SA needs
Baller
Word is that the old man needed his high blood pills.
Going to watch the Zim vs Moz game….Will halla at Mzansi later….
Thanks Kim,
Enjoy the game and I look forward to your update for tomorrow’s game. Good luck to the boys and tell Neo not to worry too much about the refs, I am sure he is used to it by now…. :))).
ciao,V
There was a light tremour this morning when we woke up. I though it was a miniature quake but naaah it the Mozambican heatbeat everytime a South African goes past them in the Cafeteria.
16 men, 1 woman vs 30 million Mozambicans…
I hereby name the national teams AMABUTHO.
eish, i just read in the Sowetan that we lost to Moz and therefore have noit qualified. to the players and the technical team, keep your heads up. we did pour best out there.
am just disturbed by what the journalist said..”the men’s side were hammered 81-67 by the more experienced Moz” qoute. again..”SA mens team have failed dismally to emulate the success of their womens counterparts”..those who know our bball know that we actually experienced than the Moz and we sure didn’t fail dismally.
Kim
What happened? And how can we move forward?