NAIROBI (Kenya) - Malawi's Bravehearts recently had luck smile upon them when they were awarded a wild-card for the upcoming Road to BAL Elite 16 Division East tournament.
History
Bravehearts are in their 10th year of existence, and over the years, they have become a giant in Malawi's basketball, winning four domestic titles. Bravehearts won their first league trophy in 2018. From 2022, they captured three consecutive championships.
They have been a constant feature in the Road to BAL, and last year, Bravehearts achieved the milestone of making the Elite 16.
Coach
Griffin Kalua, the founder of the club, has orchestrated the Bravehearts' success in the boardroom and on the court. Kalua has led the club to multiple domestic titles, and he famously qualified the club for the Elite 16 tournament in Kenya last year.
Key Players
Ian Limbe
The 28-year-old is a long-serving point guard of the club, and having tasted the Elite 16 last year, he will hope to be more impactful for the Bravehearts. In the preliminary phase wins against Basket Hounds and Dolphins, Limbe scored 23 and 14 points, respectively.
Kirk Smith
The American power forward has settled in quickly with the Bravehearts. He posted 22 points in the win over Basket Hounds and a double-double (17 points and 16 rebounds) in the win against the Dolphins, indicating that on his day, Smith can be a tough customer.
How they qualified
Winning a fourth domestic title saw the Bravehearts make another appearance in the preliminary phase of the Road to BAL, finishing with a 2-3 record in October.
Elite 16 Group B
The Bravehearts will face familiar foes in Ferroviario da Beira and Matero Magic. Tanzania's Dar City, who had a strong campaign in their Division East qualifiers, will also be in the mix in the group.
FIBA