Basketball in Africa

BASKETBALL Union of Zimbabwe president, Addison Chiware, sees a bright future for local basketball. Chiware's optimism stems from an impressive showing by the Zimbabwe U18 national girls' team, during the qualifiers of the Zone Six Africa Nations Championships held in Harare a fortnight ago.

Zimbabwe schoolgirls beat regional powerhouse Angola -- ranked second after Mozambique -- in a two-leg face-off of the regional showpiece.

Angolan schoolboys are the African Nations Champions title-holders and their senior women's side beat Zimbabwe at the regional showdown the country hosted early last year.
Chiware is aiming for top spot in the region through junior development.
"If the junior women's teams continue to get support, there will be continuous improvement such that within five years we can be among the top two in the zone and top five in Africa," she said.
Chiware said the good showing by the U18 women's team gives them a chance of getting a wild card to participate in the Africa Nations Championships set for Tunisia, in September.
Zimbabwe is also one of 10 countries expected to participate at the U18 regional championships set for South Africa in October.
Chiware told Standardsport: "BUZ has committed itself to ensuring that the U18s will always participate in the continental and invitational tournaments, to ensure that the players are exposed to quality competition.
"The Union will track these players and ensure that their needs are catered for in the BUZ development plan. This will see us launch excellence centres in the near future where players can come in and are coached by experienced coaches in the different basic areas targeted for development."

Meanwhile, JBC and Varsity Leopards will represent the country at the Zone Six women clubs championships scheduled for Maputo, Mozambique, from 5-12 July.
JBC and Raiderz will also participate at the men's edition of the regional clubs showdown in Lusaka, Zambia, later in September.