IN a week of intense preparation for continental basketball, star player Elijah Mukelabai had a moment to celebrate after being honoured with the highest award for a sportsman in Zambia.
He told The Big Tip Off on Wednesday that he hopes the award and a successful qualification for the BAL will move the needle for the game in his country.
Mukelabai was honoured with his country’s Sportsman of the Year Award, becoming the first basketball player from the Southern African nation to win it.
In a country where football is the sporting staple, Mukelabai’s award makes a case for basketball to get its space on the plate.
“It will give us recognition on the national level. For a very long time, they have recognised soccer as the number one sport. Now basketball is emerging as a runner-up,” said Mukelabai. “So, this award is going to bring light to basketball in Zambia.”
Over the years, Mukelabai has established himself as a star in Zambia, giving fans and media countless highlight-reel dunks and showing defensive tenacity in the blue of Matero Magic and most recently in the red of Munali Suns.
The award comes as he and the Munali Suns prepare themselves for the Elite 16 Division East (22-29 November) in Nairobi, Kenya. Mukelabai hopes he and his teammates can use the award as fuel to light up the hardwood at the Kasarani Sports Complex, where they will face Group A opponents, Nairobi City Thunder, Patriots and Urunani.
“It gives us a boost because now we have investors on board and the government. It will help us in so many ways. With preparation, so it will help us very much,” said Mukalebai.
Munali showed a competitive edge in regional qualifiers held in their home city, Lusaka. They won with precision against weaker opponents and displayed determination as they dug themselves out of a deficit against Ferroviario da Beira.
Mukelabai attributes Munali’s 5-0 record to the quality recruits the club brought in.
“They brought the top talent from the country. We brought the big man (Douglas Kandulu) from Spain. That really helped us through the first stage. We had everybody that we needed to help our cause,” said Mukelabai, who upped his production with 15 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
Heading toward his fifth Elite 16 qualifying tournament, Mukelabai knows what it feels like to fall short of expectations. He was part of the Matero team that went 5-0 in the Road to BAL 2025 preliminaries. But they inexplicably capitulated (0-3) when Zambian basketball fans thought they had a team ready to qualify for their first BAL.
Mukalebai took a philosophical outlook on results not going as expected at the Elite 16 stage.
“It’s just learning the game. There is no better teacher than experience,” said Mukalebai. “I personally have some growing pains, and I have knowledge I can share with the young ones and those going there for the first time. So it’s just the experience and the exposure. That’s the difference.”
He spoke about some of the talent on hand helping to carry Zambia and Munali’s hopes once again.
Kandulu, who spent a couple of years in Spain for third-division club CEB Lliria, gave Munali presence with his giant frame, while youngster Frank Siame, a former Zambia U18 AfroBasket player, ignited the team from the bench with 9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and three assists.
“Douglas playing in Spain tells you about what he can do. Him rendering his services to us is a great thing to have as a team,” Mukelabai said. “In the continent of Africa, it’s difficult to find established and skilled centres. For us to have Douglas Kandulu is a good thing for the team.”
Mukelabai continued: “With Frank, I see the future. I am just excited for him because he is a great young man. He is eager to learn, so I am excited for him,” said the veteran player.
Before joining Munali, he had just won the Dar es Salaam Basketball League with Dar City. That championship run spurred his performances, and he also credits Senegalese coach Pabi Gueye with helping lift his game.
“He gave us a lot of knowledge, and coming with that from Dar City to Munali helped me with my consistency… Just to maintain a high level of play,” said Mukelabai.
The upcoming Elite 16 games need players who embrace the challenge, the pressure, and the rough-and-tough nature of the Road to BAL. Mukelabai looks forward to those elements in Nairobi.
“These are games we live for. If you don’t play the best teams, then basketball at a high level is not for you,” said Mukelabai. Regardless of the opposition or circumstances, we are always ready to compete, and we always play to win.”
Mukelabai knows this road well. He knows the pitfalls, and as he shares knowledge, the hope is that he and Munali can change the script of Zambian clubs always falling short at the Elite 16.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for all the latest feature stories and previews of events on the African continent.
