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by | Mar 12, 2018 | Cypripedium

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Vitalis Chikoko (born 11 February 1991) is a Zimbabwean professional basketball player for SIG Strasbourg of the French LNB Pro A.[1]

Early life

Chikoko started playing basketball at age 12 in Harare.[2]

Professional career

Chikoko started his career in Zimbabwe with the Mbare Heat from Mbare suburb in his hometown Harare. He left in 2011 to play for ASC Göttingen in Germany, before transferring to Basketball Bundesliga club BG Göttingen later that year. After one year with Göttingen, Chikoko transferred to TBB Trier where he would stay for three seasons.

In 2015, Chikoko joined Pallacanestro Reggiana of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).

In 2022, Chikoko helped Élan Béarnais win their fourth-ever French Cup by scoring 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in the final against SIG Strasbourg. After the game, he was named the French Cup Final MVP.[3] Chikoko was the first African MVP in French basketball history.[4] On 17 May 2023 he was named to the All-Pro A First Team of the 2022–23 season.[5]

On 17 July 2023 he signed with JDA Dijon of the LNB Pro A.[6] On 27 April 2024, Dijon won their third French Cup in history, and Chikoko was named the Final MVP.[7] He became the only player to have won two French Cup Final MVP awards.[7]

On June 21, 2024, he signed with SIG Strasbourg of the French LNB Pro A.[8]

International career

Chikoko has previously represented Zimbabwe on the international stage at both the junior and senior levels. He played for his country at the 2008 FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship and the FIBA AfroBasket 2011 qualifying rounds.[9] On FIBA AfroBasket 2015 he averaged 13.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.[10]

Personal

Chikoko is married and has two children, Nashe-Vitalis and Anaya-Lucy.[2]

References

  1. ^ "C'est retour, c'est du lourd!". elan-bearnais.fr. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b Standard, The. "Vitalis Chikoko chases American dream". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  3. ^ Herald, The. "Chikoko honoured in France". The Herald. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  4. ^ Mpofu, Makhosini (2024-05-03). "Vitalis Chikoko: Africa's first MVP in French basketball history". Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  5. ^ "Basket. Trophées LNB 2023 : razzia pour Victor Wembanyama, Matt Morgan dans le 5 majeur de la saison". Le Maine Libre (in French). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  6. ^ "Vitalis Chikoko, nouveau joueur de la JDA". jdadijon.com (in French). July 17, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Jeanne, La (2024-04-27). "La JDA remporte la Coupe de France 2024 !!". JDA Dijon Basket (in French). Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  8. ^ "SIG Strasbourg officially signs Vitalis Chikoko". Sportando. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Chikoko, Vitalis. "About". Facebook. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Vitalis Chikoko boosts Zimbabwe ahead of AfroBasket 2015". FIBA. Archived from the original on July 31, 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
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