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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO’s Lakers and Vixens from Harare have been selected to represent Zimbabwe in the women’s category of the regional Zone 6 Basketball Club Championships at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair next month.
The regional tournament will feature top clubs from 10 countries, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Lesotho and hosts Zimbabwe, from October 20-29.
Malawi, Lesotho and Namibia will be making their maiden appearance at the regional club finals.
Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, chairman of the local organising committee and technical manager of the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ), said they were lobbying for the country to field three men’s teams through a wild card.
The men’s teams that have been cleared to register for the regional games are Foxes and City Hornets of Harare. BUZ are waiting for the continental body to give them the green light to field Mutare’s Mercenaries via the wild card.
“We are expecting all the 10 countries from our region to attend and we have since started preparations to stage a remarkable event. Each of the countries that will be coming is expected to bring two men’s teams and two women’s sides for the tournament,” said Ndlovu.
“The top two teams will then represent our region at the Fiba Africa Club Championships. Some of the countries have indicated that they are only bringing two teams each, meaning there is a chance to field a third Zimbabwean men’s team through a wild card entry. We are hopeful that our request will go through,” he said.
Defending men’s champions Premiera Augosto and Interclube (women), both from Angola, have confirmed their participation in the tournament. Interclube have won a record five regional titles.
Another Angola outfit that is coming for the championships is Libolo.
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