Zimbabwe boys and girls win inaugural IBF 3x3 Young Lions Cup

GABORONE ( IBF 3x3 Young Lions Cup) – After 3 days of insightful learning, building friendships and playing top-level 3x3 games, the IBF 3x3 Young Lions Cup has come to an end.

15 teams from 9 countries gave their hearts out on the court to win a medal for their country in the first edition of the tournament, producing high level basketball. In the end, Zimbabwe proved to be too strong in the girls' and boys' category and both teams are bringing home the trophy.

"I am grateful to have been chosen MVP" said Charles Mukweva from Zimbabwe "Both boys and girls Zimbabwe teams won which shows the level of basketball in our country is very high".

Charles Mukweva and Happiness Maroto both of Zimbabwe have been named MVPs of the tournament after gracing the competition with an abundance of talent. 4 other players showcased their skills. Salim Said Ibrahim from Comoros won the Shoot-out contest. Hope Makin won the Skills contest, earning a trophy for Swaziland while Jeremie Letandrie from Mauritius won the Dunk contest with a monumental dunk. The IBF Sportsmanship Award was awarded to Divine Irakoze from Burundi.

More than gain international playing experience, the youths gained important social skills to take back to their respective country. The leadership workshop was a profound success, the players were motivated and given the knowledge to be leaders and to use basketball to inspire change in their own communities.

Tiyandza Magwaza from Swaziland exclaimed "I really enjoyed my time! I made a lot of new friends through the workshohp and my leadership skills have definitely improved!"

Hamane Niang, president of FIBA Africa was delighted by the event, "I was astouned by the number of countries who accepted our invitation. I am very happy that basketball is present in these countries and they have showed an incredible level of talent. The leadership workshop gave an additional value to the week-end".

In organising the event, the International Basketball Foundation (IBF) hopes to have ignited a spark and that the youths will become ambassadors of the Basketball For Good movement in their communities.

FIBA