By Paul Vutete Harare Basketball Association (HBA) basketball side Arcadia Bucs has appointed Vivian Manuel as its first female coach taking over from her husband Craig Manuel.
Manuel started off on a high note, with her side beating Cameo 52-36 in a match played at Richwood Sports Club at the weekend.
She told NewsDay Sport that she was excited to have been appointed coach, adding she was hopeful of a brighter future.
“I have mixed feelings. I am happy and excited but curious and afraid as basketball is a dynamic game, played at various tempos and skill sets. Experience has taught me that you can never be over-prepared, so as a scholar of the game I will keep learning and grinding and hopefully be successful,” Manuel said.
Harare City Hornets chairperson Sunny Mbofana expressed satisfaction over the news, adding that this coincided with the calls for equality worldwide.
“The HBA family, despite limited numbers due to COVID-19 requirements, woke up to the news and celebrated the news of this ‘new kid’ on the block.”
Asked on how it felt to be the first ever female coach in the HBA A league and, indeed, the whole Zimbabwean game, the veteran administrator, who is the Zimbabwe Senior Women basketball team manager, chose to be modest and indicated that it was still early days.
She said she looked forward to more tough assignments ahead.
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“What timing for Viv! Exactly when the country and world are on a campaign for gender-based violence (GBV) and in a way celebrating the importance and equality of women in all aspects of life. As if to say without GBV, women can go all the way and do it at the highest level if given the chance,” Manuel said.
Cameo club coach Roderick Takawira admitted that the Bucs were the better side after seeing his side lose on Saturday.
“Bucs were the much better team and deserved to win. We live to fight another day,” he said.
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