Basketball season to start in October

begins early next month.
The league was supposed to have started last week but was postponed to October 1 and will feature 18 teams in both the men and women’s A leagues.
The men’s B league will see 12 teams battling it out for promotion into the first division.
The development comes after the two factions, led by Gilchrist Mageza and Roderick Takawira, decided to bury their differences for the benefit of the game after a one-and-half-year power struggle.
Mageza remains president of the association and other executive members are secretary-general Charmaine Chamboko, vice-president (competitions) Forbes Shuva and vice-president (technical commission) Andrew Chitauro.
HBA secretary-general, Chamboko, said they were expecting a more competitive league.
“Last year we had 14 teams and there is going to be a bit of difference because we have got some of the good players in our province that were playing in the other faction.
“We have teams such as Sigauke and Cheetahs in the men’s team while in the women’s division there is Siwela and UZ Stars who have good players and have joined the league.
“It’s going to be competitive,” said Chamboko.
He said they moved the league to early next month to accommodate some of the teams that have just joined.
“We were supposed to start last week but we had a meeting with the clubs that had joined the league and they requested for an extension of the deadlines.
“Registration will close tomorrow (today) and payment of affiliation will be closed at the month end,” said Chamboko.
HBA spokesperson, Carlos Munda, said they were hoping to take the game to the people and will have their matches played at various venues in the high-density suburbs.
“The venues are there but we are trying to take the game to the ghetto because our league is big now.
“We want to have matches in Dzivaresekwa, Mabvuku and Glenview among other places.
“There are new dimensions introduced by FIBA and we are urging all the clubs to work on those new dimensions for their venues,” said Munda.
The A league men is made up of UZ Stars, Mbare Heat, Pistons, Hawks, Hustlaz, Black Rhinos, Assassins, Raiderz, Varsity Leopards, City Hornets, Gentleman’s Association, Jammers, Cheetahs, Sigauke, JBC, Nuggets, Stormers and Lakers.
Real Returners, Las Model, Ladies Association, Green Stars, Hellas, Siwela, Platinum Ballers, Golden Spurs, Orbits, Harare Poly, JBC, Varsity Leopards, UZ Stars, Hustlaz, Pistons, Stormers, Raiderz and Mbare Heat will battle it out in the women’s division.