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Fungai Muderere . . .
SOUTHERN Mavericks and Lakers Basketball Foundation respectively dominated at the inaugural men and women’s Daniel “Zizi” Mombeshora Bulawayo Basketball Association (BAB) pre-season tournament last weekend.
The men’s contest took place at Khanyisile Sports Centre while ladies teams converged at Eveline High School.
To claim glory, Mavericks got the better of Giants on a 40-32 scoreline.
In the women’s category, Lakers Basketball Foundation dismissed Southern Mavericks 14 -11, in a tournament that was sponsored by Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Khanyisile Sports Centre, Evergold, Milling, Blue-Ram and basketball legend Ernie Noble.
“Special mention goes out to Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Evergold, Milling, Blue-Ram, basketball legend Ernie Noble and other veterans who made this event to be a success. We are also grateful that the venue (Khanyisile Sports Centre) was provided to us for free,” said BBA’s marketing officer Francis Dube.
The tournament was meant to afford the association affiliates a chance to fine tune their players ahead of the start of the season on 7 November.
The start of this year’s BAB programme was delayed as Bulawayo will play host to the Zone Six Basketball Club Championships that will be staged at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) starting Saturday.
The Zone Six tournament has attracted teams from five regional countries, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and hosts Zimbabwe, and will run to 29 October.
The winner of the men and women’s competitions will qualify for the African Club Championships, whose women’s event is set for next month in Mozambique, with the men’s finals date yet to be released.
Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, chairman of the local organising committee and technical manager of the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ), said defending continental women’s champions Primero de Augosto of Angola will not be featuring in the tournament having already secured a ticket to the African championships.
Also ruled out of the tournament is women’s team Ferroviario de Maputo from Mozambique.
“Everything is on course and teams are arriving this week. The Angolan women’s team arrives at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport on Thursday, with the other teams jetting in on Friday. It’s all systems go and we are ready for an epic tournament,” said Ndlovu.
Regional basketball powerhouse Angola will be represented by Primero de Augosto and Interclube in the men’s category.
Malawi, who will be making a maiden appearance at the regional club finals, are sending two men’s teams Brave Hearts and Central Knights. In the women’s category, Malawi will be represented by Brave Hearts.
Mozambique’s men’s teams coming for the games are Ferroviario de Maputo and Ferroviario de Beira.
Zambia’s UNZA Honeys and Napster Breeze have withdrawn from the competition citing financial challenges, leaving Matero Magics’ men’s team as their only representative.
Police Women and Police Men of Botswana have also withdrawn from the competition.
Bulawayo’s Lakers and Vixens from Harare will represent Zimbabwe in the women’s competitions, with Foxes and City Hornets of Harare taking part in the men’s category.
Online Reporter