04 Oct 2017

Botswana Basketball Association is to host the highest regional club basketball competition in Africa later this month.

The Zone VI club championships will be held from October 23-29, and the tournament will attract both men and women champions and their runners-up from Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Angola.

The regional team knock-out tournament  is attended by the cream-de-la-cream of basketball that Southern Africa can offer under one roof. Over 312 players and 36 team officials are expected to sweat it out at the University of Botswana Arena for a spot in the African club championships.

The Zone VI championships cup is organised by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Africa, and the tournament champions and runners-up will represent the region at the African club championships.  

The champions of the African club champions will, thereafter, represent Africa at the World Club Championships Cup.

Batswana will be pinning their hopes on Troopers Basketball Club, Dolphins Albatross Basketball Club and Spartans Basketball Club in the men’s teams, while the women’s teams are BDF V, Police V and UB Relics.

 All eyes will, however, be on Angola clubs of Primeriro de Agosto who are eight times Africa men champions and Interclude who are the reigning Africa women’s champion.

 If history is to repeat itself, the writing might already be on the wall that the Angolans will give many a run for their money in the upcoming tournament, as they have been a force to reckon with in yesteryears.  Speaking in an interview, Botswana Basketball Association Boineelo Hardy said hosting the games would present a wide scope of benefits for all stakeholders involved in the game of basketball.

She said Botswana was expected to benefit from hosting the tournament, and that  FIBA expected more nations  to raise their hands in bidding to host the international tournament.  

She noted that the tournament has historically been hosted between Angola and Mozambique in Southern Africa since the tournament inception, and that it was a milestone for Botswana to be counted among those nations. By virtue of hosting the tournament, Hardy said Botswana’s recognition within FIBA cycles was expected to be rocket, adding that it would be of advantage to the local basketball game.

 As a hosting country, Hardy highlighted that Botswana was able to field a higher number of teams per country, as it would be fielding three teams from both the men and women category while other teams would be sending only two teams.

She also noted that FIBA sanctioned games of this magnitude increased the teams technical rankings, and that countries that hosted such games received more support and assistance from FIBA.

She added that it would benefit the development of basketball in the country.

She said it would also benefit a large pool of players in the local league, as they would be exposed to high level basketball. She added that the experience would also benefit the national baskeball team. ENDS