By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
LUNGA Bullets Coach Sizimthela Kutempa says Copperbelt basketball teams lack the technical and tactical abilities to compete with their Lusaka rivals.
Kutempa was reacting to Bullet’s failure to reach the finals of the Zambia Basketball Association 2015 Sprite National Championships.
He observed that the gap between the two regions was slowly closing up and that there was need for Copperbelt coaches to improve on the tactical and technical approach to the game.
Kutempa said his team failed to beat Green Buffaloes in the semi-finals because of not matching the Army side’s tactics and not having big-sized players.
Buffaloes won the first two of three of the semi-final series to book a place in the finals of the Sprite National Championship where they await the winner between Matero Magic and UNZA Pacers who are tied at 1-1 after two games.
“It was a tough game. We prepared very well, at least we gave them a run for their money. I think the major thing we need to work on is equip the players. Size was also a factor in the game.
They had more manpower than we did in terms of size. When you are trying to make subs you look at the bench you only have small size,” Kutempa said.
He said in as much as there was some improvement by Copperbelt teams this year, more needed to be done, especially where coaches should stop working independently.
Kutempa said most coaches on the Copperbelt were not ready to share knowledge or consult other trainers on how to improve their teams.
“This year, Copperbelt teams were not losing their games as early as the first quarter like it used to be in the past. They were fighting to the last minute of the game.
“This shows that there is some improvement. The only remaining thing is technicalities of the game and read more.
The problem with us coaches on the Copperbelt is that we want to work independently. There is need to consult and share notes,” Kutempa said.
Bullets became the first team from the Copperbelt to reach the semi-finals of the national championships in over 10 years.
