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THE Basketball Union of Zimbabwe National Club Championships kick off at Regina Mundi in Gweru this morning with Bulawayo’s Lakers expected to stamp their dominance in the women’s category. The tournament which ends on Saturday, has attracted 13 clubs which have been drawn into four groups with top two teams in each pool proceeding to the quarter-finals.
Lakers, coached by former national team gaffer Sikhumbuzo “SV” Ndlovu, have turned the tide on Harare teams which have been ruling the roost in the last five years and are in Pool D that has Raiders and Platinum.
The Bulawayo club won December’s Ronald Gurura Memorial tournament played in Harare and went on to beat their City of Kings counterparts Southern Mavericks in the final of the Bob 90 Super Cup in February.
In March, the Bulawayo women’s team made up of mostly Lakers and Southern Mavericks beat their Harare counterparts in the Buz Inter-provincial final.
Ndlovu said their preparations to challenge for today’s competition are on course.
“We have been training hard for this tournament. We know that since we won two national competitions pressure will be on us but we have players within our camp who can stand the heat. All teams are prepared and it won’t be easy for us as there are about nine teams that command respect in the local basketball circuit,” Ndlovu said.
Should they make it beyond the group stage, Lakers might face Southern Mavericks who are in Pool B with last year’s bronze medallists Highlanders, Vixens and FML.
Teams that the Lakers coach is wary of are Greenstars, last year’s losing finalist to now defunct Cameo, Southern Mavericks, Lakers, JBC, Steelers and Highlanders.
Lakers’ hopes will be pinned on the experienced quintet of Geraldine Chiponda, Rukudzo Matsekwa, Pretty Tinarwo, Jacqueline Phenduka and Cleo Manda.
Another Bulawayo Metropolitan Province’s medal hopeful Southern Mavericks will have former national team players Juliet Misihairabwi and Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Melisa Majonga and Velile Moyo leading their quest for glory.
Meanwhile, last year’s defending men’s champions Cameo are favourites to retain their title and have been drawn in Pool A against Legends and Bulawayo’s Oilers.
Oilers have the youthful duo of Shadel Noble, Nhlanhla Mabhiza and Sean Noble to bank on.
Expectations are high that all Bulawayo teams in the men’s category will make it through to the last eight. Oilers, Giants and Southern Mavericks are City of Kings’ representatives.
Southern Mavericks’ captain Shingi Magwaro, Jordan Chisungure, Benjamin Jani and William Muchuchuti are some of the Joe Mujuru coached side’s key players.
“We believe our chances of making it to the last four are bright and we are geared up for the competition,” said Joe Mujuru.
Groups
Men
Group A: Cameo, Legends, Oilers
Group B: JBC, Hustlers, Drifters
Group C: Riders, Giants, Fibres
Group D: Unicorns, Mavericks, Steelers
Women
Group A: Greenstars, Real Returners, Midlands State University
Group B: Highlanders, Mavericks, Vixens, FML
Group C: JBC, Steelers, G-Stars Academy
Group D: Lakers, Raiders, Platinum
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu