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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE 5th edition of the Lakers Foundation Basketball Tournament has attracted more than double last year’s participants with teams increasing from 12 to 32.
Lakers Foundation founder and tournament director, Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, said they have also managed to attract top teams from outside the country making it one of the top competitions in the country.
He said 11 teams from Zambia, Malawi and Botswana have registered to take part in the tournament that will be played at Eveline High School and Khanyisile Sports Club.
The tournament has also for the first time incorporated junior teams and is a precursor to the main tourney.
It kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday) ending the following day and the main tourney kicks off on Thursday running until Saturday.
The juniors section is made up of Under-13 teams from primary schools within Bulawayo.
“We’re glad the tournament will be bigger than what w’re used to and we’re going to have teams from outside the country making the competition tighter.
“I’m sure basketball fans are going to see quite competitive matches because most of the teams from outside Zimbabwe are big in their own countries and will provide stiff competition.
We also have a huge number of teams coming from outside Bulawayo with Harare supplying seven. There are five from the Midlands and two from Mutare,” said Ndlovu.
He said the tournament celebrates the girl child particularly highlighting the 16 Days of Gender-based Violence activism.
The main draw was conducted yesterday afternoon at KSC with teams being pooled into groups, with the men’s section having four pools with four teams each while the women’s side has two pools with five teams each.
Ndlovu said their visits to other countries have seen them establishing relations with various clubs hence the tournament getting the international flavour.
The Lakers Foundation was founded in 2009 with the aim of developing the girl child’s potential through basketball.
Tournament draw
Women Pool A – A1 Lakers, A2 JBC, A3 Netts, A4 NUST, A5 UNZA Honiez Pool B – B1 Southern Mavericks, B2 Angels, B3 Police, B4 Lakers Juniors, B5 Magic Spark Men Pool A – A1 JBC, A2 NUST, A3 Mutumbili A4 Hustlaz Pool B – B1 Mercenaries, B2 Giants, B3 Central knights, B4 Falcons Pool C – C1 Harare City Hornets, C2 Oilers C3 UNZA Pacers D4 MSU / Dolphins Pool D – D1 Unicorns, D2 S/Mavericks, D3 Matero Magic, D4 Flames /UNAM.
Online Reporter