Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
BASKEBALL enthusiasts in Manicaland are in for a thrilling ride as competition intensifies in the MBA ahead of the 2025 national championships, scheduled for Mutare in May.
Local teams are vying for top honours in the Mutare Basketball League, with the ultimate prize being a coveted spot in the national championships.
Dangamvura Courts have become a hub of activity, with teams such as City Saints, Sporto, Villa Stars, Hoppers, Sakubva Hurricanes, Dangamvura Knights, and Mercenaries battling it out for the championship title.
Two men’s teams from Manicaland will compete in the national championships, alongside four teams from Harare, two from Gweru and Bulawayo, and one each from Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.
Women’s teams will also participate in the championships, which will run from May 1 to 4.
However, traditional powerhouse, Mercenaries, who have dominated the league in recent years, are reportedly facing internal turmoil, which may impact their performance in the upcoming championships.
Mercenaries, the defending champions from last season, will face stiff competition from Dangamvura Knights, who finished as runners-up. Manicaland Basketball Association publicist, Tererayi Overseas Matibini hailed the league’s competitiveness this season.
“The level of competition this year is exceptionally high, with any team capable of winning. It is exciting to see teams competing fairly and with determination,” he said.
Matibini appealed to the corporate community to partner with basketball, citing mutual benefits.
“Our teams are vying for a spot in the national championships, which we will be hosting this year. Manicaland boasts of talented players, enabling our teams to compete favourably against regional opponents. It is against this background that we make a passionate plea for the corporate world to come on board for mutual benefit with the game of basketball,” said the multi-sport discipline Inspire Athletics Academy director.
The current season, which began on November 9, will run until the end of April.
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