BUZ soldier on

Deputy Sports Editor

THE Basketball Union of Zimbabwe look to have taken the latest stumbling block in the hopes of launching the three-on-three game in their stride and have now placed their hopes in the Young Lions tournament slated for October.

This follows their failed application to send an Under-18 boys and girls team to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mali for the Africa Cup tournament, both of which were denied by the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) last week.

The application fell under a blanket ban that has been imposed on all incoming and outgoing tours, which the sport regulatory body said was “in light of the continued surge in Covid-19 infections” which have resulted in the extension of the Level Four lockdown by another two weeks.

“In the interest of public health and safety, all incoming and outgoing sports tours are hereby suspended with immediate effect.

“The SRC will continue to liaise with the Government in that regard,” read a statement from SRC acting director-general Sebastian Garikai.

BUZ president Joe Mujuru said his board had no qualms about the cancelled trips adding that his union remains resolute in their quest to introduce the shorter version of the sport.

“It’s a blanket ban on all sports tours and trips, and not just us.

“We totally understand that the Covid-19 pandemic is still very much a part of us, and as such the health and safety of our athletes comes first.

“While this development does come as an obvious disappointment, as we hoped to use it as a launching pad for the game here in Zimbabwe, we remain resolute.

“The three-one-three is one we have identified as the future of the sport, and currently is our best hope for podium finishes and medals.

“That we are getting invites, and are part of the conversation, is a good sign and it is just a matter of time before we get the ball rolling.

“The goal is to have three-on-three basketball on equal standing with the more traditional (5X5) game, and that starts with introducing the game at the grassroots level.

“With time, this will cascade to club level,” he said.

Mujuru and his lieutenants have since placed their hopes on the Young Lions South Tournament, which the country hopes to participate in and even host.

“It’s really tricky at the moment, what with the pandemic still very much a part of us.

“There isn’t much we can do in terms of planning, but we hope to participate in the tournament and even host it,” he said.

The 3×3 Young Lions Cup South is a Youth Leadership and Basketball development project launched in 2017 and runs in the Southern part of the continent.

Winning teams from each tournament will be invited to international events, taking part in workshops aimed at furthering their understanding of the format.

Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe are among the nations that have taken part in the tournament.

Zimbabwe were originally scheduled to host the 2020 edition before it was postponed.

BUZ, however, remain in contention to stage the event should the pandemic and conditions permit.