admin(BUZ) saying the officiating in the just-ended national club competitions in Harare left a lot to be desired.
“The actual play on the field was great and our teams played well but so did the other teams. My concern, however, was the match officiating which seemed to favour the home sides at the expense of the away teams.
“Apart from that the registration process before the games started was in shambles and I feel BUZ could have learnt from tournaments like the Unicorns tournament in Gweru, the Lakers tournament in Bulawayo and the other orderly tournaments in other provinces,” Mujuru said.
He said most teams did not get their money and time’s worth and he felt the national body could have done a better job.
All BBA men’s teams Unicorns, Highlanders and Giants were knocked out in the quarter-finals with the former team narrowly losing out by a single point to Heat from Harare under dubious officiating, according to Mujuru.
The BBA women’s teams did not fare well as they were knocked out in the group stages.
Mujuru, however, lauded the coaches and players who did well to produce a good tournament and the host province Harare for pulling a good crowd.
He, however, said BBA affiliates and clubs from other provinces should learn from Harare clubs who have proper management structures from team managers, deputies, coaches and their assistants and challenged them to do that.
“In our provincial associations we have coaches doubling as players and managers as players and this is not a conducive environment as coaches who play do not have the full assessment of the game from the touchlines.
“We need proper structures in the provinces to improve our basketball and even without sponsors clubs can draft in passionate volunteers within basketball to help out,” Mujuru said.
Meanwhile, Harare’s Varsity Leopards were crowned the national club champions after overcoming local rivals Jewels Basketball Club 75-61 while Cameo from the host city emerged men’s champions after narrowly edging Mutare’s Mercenaries 48-47.
Bongani Ndlovu