Basketball in Africa

Malawi’s Southern Zone Basketball League (Sozobal) defending champions and leaders Bricks are determined to remain in contention for the play-offs despite suffering their first league defeat of the season.
National champions Lox360 handed Bricks their first league defeat at Blantyre Youth Centre on Tuesday with a narrow win 80-79.
Bricks senior member Chikondi Mwendera said the loss would motivate them to return to winning ways to remain in pole position to reach the play-offs.
“The loss does not mean that we have lost our venom. We are still good and we will bounce back with force and in style to qualify for the play-offs,” he said.
Despite the loss, Bricks still top the table with 26 points having defeated Changalume 89-46 earlier on. In other games Magang’a beat Crazy Warriors 70-80 while Hi-Fliers defeated Changalume 66-55.
In ladies friendly matches, Christian Eagles beat Cobbe 31-28 while Netters pounced Cobbe 40-23.
Sozobal chairman Hamlet Kamtengeni said they organised the bonanza in their quest to conclude the league in good time.
“Basically we are racing against time. Our calendar was affected when our netball counterparts hosted an event [Africa Netball Championship].
“The bonanza helped us to play a lot of games within short period. This is a positive step in our quest to finish the league before the start of the national cup and all star games,” he said.
Kamtengeni also hailed the presence of several supporters saying it hyped the bonanza.