adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE African Union Sports Council Region Five has taken an initiative to save the joint basketball qualifiers for the Afro-Basketball and All-Africa Games from being moved from Bulawayo to Harare. Last week the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe announced that they were taking the Afro-Basketball and All-Africa Games qualifiers to the capital as the City of Kings did not have the requisite facilities.
The joint qualifiers set to feature five Southern African countries had been scheduled for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair from November 20-27, but construction is underway at the venue and it is unlikely that it will be ready by November 20.
However, speaking on the sidelines of the December African Union Sports Council Region Five Youth Games draw, Sidney Simelane, projects and marketing manager at African Union Sports Council Region Five said discussions are underway to save the joint basketball qualifiers.
“As you’re aware, work is underway at the ZITF facilities which will play host to the December African Union Sports Council Region Five Youth Games and the Local Organising Committee is chasing the November 15 deadline.
“We’ve assigned the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to try and get at least one of the basketball mats soon so that these qualifiers are held here in Bulawayo as a trial run for our December African Union Sports Council Region Five Youth Games.
“Holding the basketball qualifiers will also enable training of personnel because there’s no other competition that can be used before the December Games,” said Simelane.
Joe Mujuru, the BUZ secretary-general said they are waiting for feedback from LOC on the developments.
“It’s true that during one of the meetings we had with the Regional Organising Committee last week it was said that they’re looking at how best to have the Afro-Basketball and All-Africa Games in Bulawayo. What’s needed is to have the basketball equipment in Bulawayo by November 17 to avoid going to Harare.
Call me tomorrow after I’ve spoken to the LOC because they had a meeting on Saturday and we’re waiting for feedback,” Mujuru said.
Zimbabwe will compete against Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Angola for slots in the Afro-Basketball Championships to be co-hosted by Tunisia and Cameroon as well as the All-Africa Games to be held in Congo-Brazzaville next year.
LOC chairperson Khonzani Ncube said they are working round the clock to make sure that they meet the November 15 deadline set by ROC.
“What was agreed on is to have the facilities ready by November 15 and that hasn’t changed. We’re working on meeting that deadline and all the Games’ trial runs will be held before the actual competition, including basketball,” said Ncube.
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