Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Basketball Association (BBA) has moved swiftly to make sure the game is not brought into disrepute by imposing a ban and fine on players who were involved in a fight when they hosted their pre-season tournament a fortnight ago.
The BBA disciplinary committee sat on Wednesday to make a ruling over the fight that broke out between Mavericks and Lakers players. The committee observed that the fight that was triggered by two players, one from Mavericks Nhlanhla Chirinda by throwing the ball at the face of Tanonoka Pedzi. In retaliation, the latter punched the former. In a bid to protect his team mate, Walter Manase who was not on the team bench joined in the fight, and subsequently other players from both teams joined in the fracas.
The Disciplinary Committee in its consideration of the extenuating circumstances already mentioned above and that the players involved are very young and also first time offenders, wholly suspended the four months ban on condition that the accused players serve the two matches suspension in full, pay the stipulated fine of USD50 by the start of the official first game of the BBA league season and that the accused players will never be involved in a similar offence for the duration of the 2022 BBA Season. Failure to which thesentence will be imposed in full. If the parties are not satisfied with the decision, they can lodge an appeal in writing through the Secretary General of BBA as provided for in the BBA rules.
Basketball is set to get underway this Saturday. BBA has decided to have finals of their pre-season competition, which failed to conclude owing to bad light, be played on the first day of the season. The ladies final will see City Towers take on Lakers A while Legends will face Mavericks.
Week 1 Fixtures
0830- 1000 Gwanda Rebels v Highlanders Comets (Men C)
1000 – 1130 Catch Them Young Academy v Titans (Men C)
1130 – 1300 Lakers Supermed v CBC (Men B)
1300 – 1430 MSU v Ostrich (Men C)
1430 – 1600 Angels v NUST (Women A)
1600 – 1730 Lakers A v Giants (Men A)
1730 – 1900 Pre-season Women’s Final – City Towers v Lakers A
1900 – 2030 Pre-season Men Final- Legends v Mavericks
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