Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
FOLLOWING a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the Bulawayo Basketball Association (BBA) has been forced to add extra sanctions on teams in their B League while stricter measures have been placed for the A League.
The BBA executive committee has advised teams that players of school going age who are not vaccinated will not be allowed to play any games with immediate effect. The association said this decision was made after taking into consideration that most B League players are of school-going age and are not vaccinated.
BBA president Sinda Mono confirmed the new B League restrictive measures adding that they will stay in place until the executive feels it is safe to do otherwise.
“Unfortunately for sport and the country at large, there are increasing numbers of positive Covid-19 cases as well as the advent of the new variant which has now been identified in Zimbabwe.
“And with this in mind, it is with sadness and disappointment that the Bulawayo Basketball Association Executive Committee announces the immediate change in rules governing the use of under-aged players who have generally not been vaccinated and are playing in the men’s B league,” said Mono.
“The reasoning behind this decision is that most B League players are of school going age and are not vaccinated.
After extensive consultations, we have realised that to allow these young players to continue playing would be irresponsible and would put not just our young players at risk but many more players, officials and administrators as well.”
He added that they will be placing stricter measures for the A league which continues at the weekend.
“The Executive Committee would also like to advise all clubs that with immediate effect, no player shall be allowed onto the court without prior production of their vaccine cards on the scorer’s table for verification. This should be done as the team managers submit their team lists to the scorers and match officials,” he said.
Prior to this notice by the BBA, clubs had been asked to submit copies of their players’; vaccination cards to the league, but now are expected to have them on their person ahead of every league fixture. All clubs had met these conditions as set out by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), but the new measures are meant to ensure that these vaccinated players are vetted ahead of every fixture. — @innocentskizoe
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