The Bindura University of Science Education basketball team, the Panthers, have vamped up preparations for the Ekat 2023 University International Sports Festival which will take place in Ekaterinburg Russia from the 24th of August to the 1st of September.
Following a whirlwind 2022 season in which the Panthers won gold medals at the Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union (ZTISU) games and the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA), the International Sports Festival extended an invitation to BUSE to compete against teams from around the globe in Russia.
The team began their training camp soon after the Heroes and Defence Forces Holiday with Innocent Zhomwa, Tafadzwa Kahari, Tembelton Mukwesha, and Tamuka Chikanya joining coach Brian Nyakambangwe for training sessions at the Mt Darwin Campus sports courts.
They will travel to Russia with Sports and Recreation Department deputy director, Mr Tinashe Munarwo.
The Panthers will be joined in Russia by the University of Zimbabwe’s (UZ) volleyball team as well as Lupane State University’s (LSU) basketball team.
Mr Tinashe Munarwo said that the Panthers will take part in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament.
“There are four groups of four teams in the 3×3 basketball tournament and the Panthers will face institutions from Iran, Russia, and Argentina in Group A. The boys were invited to participate after winning gold at the CUCSA last year. One member of the Panthers, Innocent ‘Skiddy’ Zhomwa, has even received a national call-up following his impressive performance in the 2022 season.”
Ekat 2023 will see 36 nations competing in 14 sporting events namely Badminton, 3×3 Basketball, Boxing, Volleyball, Judo, Futsal, Table Tennis, Swimming, Diving, Sambo, Wrestling, Tennis, Taekwondo, and Rhythmic Gymnastics.
