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Innocent Kurira
BULAWAYO is set to take centre stage in Zimbabwe’s basketball calendar when it hosts this year’s national club championships at Khanyisile Sports Centre at the start of next month.
The event, regarded as the country’s premier showcase of club basketball, will bring together champions from across all provinces, with teams earning their place through their respective provincial leagues.
This year’s edition promises to be one of the biggest yet, with 16 teams set to compete in the men’s category and 10 in the women’s division, a clear reflection of the sport’s rising profile nationwide.
The City of Kings and Queens, long recognised as a stronghold of Zimbabwean basketball, will provide the perfect backdrop for the competition, with local fans expected to turn out in numbers to witness the country’s top talent on display.
The tournament draw has been pencilled in for April 25, allowing time for provincial leagues to conclude. Bulawayo and Harare, two of the country’s major basketball hubs, are expected to wrap up their leagues next weekend, after which the full list of participating teams will be confirmed.
Francis Dube, the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (Buz) competitions manager, said hosting the tournament in Bulawayo was a strategic decision aimed at celebrating one of the country’s traditional basketball centres.
“Bulawayo has always been a key hub for basketball in Zimbabwe and we felt it was important to bring the national championships here. This is the premier showcase of club basketball, bringing together champions from every province,” said Dube.
He added that the expanded format would enhance competition and give more players a platform to shine.
“This year’s edition is bigger than most, with 16 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams taking part. It shows the growth of the game across the provinces and we are expecting a very competitive tournament,” he said.
Dube also explained the reasoning behind the timing of the draw, noting that it would ensure all provinces are fully represented.
“The draw is set for April 25 because most provincial leagues will have concluded by then. We want every province to send its champion, so that the tournament truly reflects the best club basketball talent in the country,” he said.
Beyond crowning national champions, the tournament is expected to serve as a platform for emerging players to announce themselves, further underlining Bulawayo’s role as a key driver in the growth of basketball in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter