Mozambique: Costa do Sol becomes absolute champion in women’s basketball @ Sasol League

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Mozambique: Costa do Sol becomes absolute champion in women’s basketball @ Sasol League

5:32 CAT | 21 Feb 2022

Photo courtesy: Sasol

On the 18th of February, we witnessed the end of the first edition of the Sasol League, with Costa do Sol defeating Ferroviário de Maputo by just 1 point, with the final result being 69 against 68, in favor of the Canarinhas. In all, there were two very vibrant weeks, in which 8 teams, representatives of the various provinces of the country, fought for the title of champion of the Women’s Basketball League.

Sasol sponsors the championship through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Mozambican Basketball League, for 3 seasons (2022, 2023 and 2024). The same agreement provides for the allocation of 24% of the budget for the development of basketball in Inhambane province, through institutional support to the provincial basketball association, help in holding provincial competitions, which result in the qualification of the team that represents the province in competitions, and also to organize national and local competitions, in Govuro, Inhassoro and Vilankulo, in the 3 to 3 model, to promote the sport in the districts that host Sasol’s operations.

Sasol’s General Manager, Ovídio Rodolfo, stated that “Sasol has emphasized in its motto the support to communities and for us, doing business means being sure of communities well-being, in a transversal way. For us, well-being is socio-economic development and we see sport as a catalyst, so we feel tremendously committed to the promotion of Sport in Mozambique, particularly with women’s sport, considering the gender factor. Although this commitment to the Basketball League is for 3 years, it does not mean that it ends after 3 years. We will evaluate, we will continue to support, and the main objective is to replicate this support throughout the country.”

Gilberto Mendes, Secretary of State for Sport stated that “We are happy because Sasol has come to give sustainability to sport. Organising a Championship of this size entails many costs and Sasol came to supply it with this support. Congratulations to Sasol for having embraced the Basketball League and for helping to provide an impeccable Championship! It was a party, a joy to be able to see the emotion of our athletes, when they were presented not only with medals and trophies, but also with a monetary incentive. Today, Sasol comes out with a stronger image and shows that Sport and Economy can and must walk together.”

According to Vilma Covane, Costa do Sol athlete “the Championship was not easy to win! It took a lot of effort and dedication on our part. Sasol gave a shine to Women’s Basketball, it was one of the best things they could do for us this year because our Basketball was very pale, without any expression, but Sasol gave us shine, gave us more strength to keep fighting. I would like to ask Sasol not to give up on us and continue to support National Sports.”

Ingvild Mucauro said that “The biggest challenge that athletes face in Mozambique is the fact that we are not professionals! Sports in Mozambique, especially for women, face many difficulties, for this reason, we are not just basketball players, but we are obliged to study and perform other functions (in my case, I am a doctor), in order to support ourselves! Sasol came to alleviate many of these concerns and this Championship was proof of that! We saw an organized Championship, with awards and from now on we hope that Sasol remains committed to supporting National Sport.” It was a final filled with a lot of emotion and we hope to overcome it in the next editions.