Basketball in Africa

1) Opening Remarks:
a)The meeting was called to order at 1305. The Vice President welcomed all members and wished everyone a successful 2006 season.
2) Northern Region Committee
a)Nominations were received and the following people were put into their respective posts as they were all uncontested.
Co-ordinator -Mr Rogers Moyo
Secretary -Mr Jan Mulunda
Treasurer -Mr James Zulu

3) Teams Taking part in the 2006 season.
a)It was recommended that all teams wishing to participate in the 2006 basketball season make the fact know by Wednesday 8th March.
b)Teams that showed immediate interest were
CEC (Men and Women), Ndola Clippers (Men), FQMOL (Men) formerly Bwana Mkubwa Nets,Luansha (Men) , Luanshya Eagles (men and women), Ndola Woosters (women), Lechwe Steel (Men and Women), Hetro Bullets (men), Mufulira Magnets (men and women), Simba (men), Chiambeshi (?) , Mufulira (men), CBU (men and women).
All but Simba, Chambsehi and Mufulira confirmed immediately
This brought the total number of teams interested to a total of 12 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams

c)Teams were formerly informed of the affiliation fees and payment deadlines.
Club affiliation K300000
Team affiliation (15 players) K200000
Team Official K50000 each
Additional Players K50000 each
Payment deadline 22 March 06
d)Most clubs protested against the increased fees and the short notice for payment of affiliation fees.
e)The procedure to be followed when paying affiliation fees was indicated.

All payments were to be made directly into the ZBA account
At Standard Chartered Main Branch, acc# 0100110139400

Two copies of the deposit slips were to be made,
The original and one copy to be sent to ZBA one copy to be submitted to the ZBA North VP along with the club and player registration form.
The other copy is for the clubs records.
No member of the ZBA Executive will handle any payments directly.
4) Matters arising from the National ZBA AGM
a)Payment for use of courts. The VP suggested that ZBA provide the Northern Region with the same facility as the South. Clubs were paying K150 000 for the hire of the best two courts on the Copperbelt, Zamsure and Lechwe. It was also suggested that clubs focus more on developing the facilities that spending money on hire. K. Kawanda was tasked with following up FQM to see if they would put up floodlights at Zamsure.
b)Payments for officials travel. K. Musonda suggested that when officials travel on ZBA business, ZBA should assist with the payments for travel and accommodation. It was also noted that the Northern Region had not received any money for the development of facilities like 24-second shot clock, stopwatches, or even stationary for administering games.
c)Balls, B Mwango inquired why ZBA had not provided basketballs for matches. T. Mutasa responded that two basketballs had been provided, and he was in possession of one of the balls from K. Musonda, the second ball never reached him.
d)K Musonda suggested that we needed at least two scoreboards to be kept at the two main venues.
5) Proposals for the improvement match attendance by teams
a)The biggest problem was the cost of attending matches for unsponsored teams. On an average weekend clubs spend anything between K800 000 to K1 400 000 on travelling expenses. Some clubs can spend up to K600 000 one weekend’s travel expenses depending on the venue.
b)Non Sponsored teams to produce adequate courts to host games to reduce on travel costs.
c)Host teams must be organised on time.
d)Clubs must as per resolution from last year provide referees, this would help with expenses for the clubs.
e)Clubs must endeavour to organise fundraising activities to raise money for their expenses.
f)B. Nsama suggested that ZBA North does not advertise enough as a result, there is poor match attendance by the general public. Radio Chengelo, Mwembe Kaona and Patrick Chibuta were immediately targeted to give weekends reports and publicises the weekend’s fixture.

g)CEC indicated that they needed to have their fixtures sent to them two weeks in advance for them to receive funds. The VP indicated that all clubs must provide an email contact to facilitate easy communication as sms was not acceptable for sponsors and faxes were expensive for the committee to pay for. Further to that he indicated that all clubs must also make an effort to contact the relevant people to find out what is going on. As it is very difficult to contact some clubs.
h)It was noted that it seemed the sponsor had no interest in the Copperbelt as their advertising banners and goods were not provided last season. The VP indicated that it was possibly because of the many fixture changes necessitated by clubs failing to attend matches, unavailability of some venues, and club events that were not on the national calendar. For example trips to Lusaka, fundraising activities and unavailability of clubs that were not indicated when the original fixture was produced.
i)The VP suggested that if transport could be sponsored from Luanshya and Chingola via Mufulira, to Kitwe, this would prove to be the most cost-effective solution.
6) Proposals for improvement of team performances
a)Coaching / refereeing clinics must be held and school coaches / referees invited to attend. The Co-ordinator was tasked with organising these events. The VP noted that teams were apathetic and did not respond to the clinics held last year and proposed that it be made mandatory.
b)Inter-team communication. Coaches and players need to discuss strategies, get advise on their week points, learn from other teams strong points etc.
c)Arranging friendly matches.
d)Schools basketball needs to be improved and promoted. The hosting of curtain raisers where schools would start to integrate into ZBA would be beneficial.
e)Look at ZBA’s relationship with schools in the constitution.
7) Opening Tournament.
a)The 25th March 06 was proposed as the date for the opening tournament.
b)Luanshya was proposed as the venue, Pending court approval by the co-ordinator, inspection to take place on the 11th of March. Zamsure was set as the backup venue.
c)VP indicated that there was no money for the running of the tournament, Referees and prizes would be a problem. VP to try to find sponsorship or set participation fee.
8) Any Other Business
a)It was noted that female representation was very poor in this region, almost no females attend meetings and the number of female teams was low.
b)Regional First Aid boxes need to be procured. Mr Kawanda and Mr Kabunda volunteered their services as they were in the medical field to attend to medical problems at matches free of charge.
c)Mr M’kandawire suggested an end of year Party. VP indicated that this should possibly be tasked to the players union, which is yet to be formed. Further to that he indicated that he felt that the region needed to address some fundamental problems of clubs failing to meet their ZBA obligations before concentrating on other activities not directly related to the sport.

There being no further business, the meeting ended at 1535.





Tonderai Mutasa
ZBA Vice President