Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
Basketball action is expected to resume mid next month after an almost 19-month pause caused by the coronavirus.
With Government, through the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), having given the greenlight for all sport to return, the country’s leading basketball provinces – Harare and Bulawayo – are both eyeing a mid-October resumption.
In the case of the Harare Basketball Association, president David Pick said the province is just waiting for the official go-ahead from the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe.
However, everything looks to be in place for an imminent return.
“We have submitted our Covid-19 vaccination returns, and all that is left now is the official go-ahead from our mother body,” said Pick.
“The response to the vaccination programme has been very encouraging, with only a few clubs lagging behind.
“We made it clear that all players and officials have to be vaccinated, otherwise they will not be permitted to play.
“For now, as we round-up on the Covid-19 protocols, we are targeting a mid-October return,” he said.
The Bulawayo Basketball Association looks to have a clearer blueprint on their resumption plans.
According to minutes obtained from the association’s general assembly, a pre-season tournament has been slated for October 9, with the league commencing seven days later.
Nine teams will take part in the tournament, with the top seven seeds forming the A-league.
The nine include: Giants, Southern Mavericks, NUST, Oilers, Clippers, City Knights, Highlanders, City Royals and Lakers.
Clubs have up to October 6 to finalise their compliance programmes.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter