Basketball in Africa

THE Zambia Basketball Association (ZBA) has announced that it will not host any international events this year but will instead compete in events lined up by the International Basketball (FIBA) Africa Zone.

According to a Press statement released yesterday by ZBA acting general secretary, Mwembe Kaona, the decision was made during the first executive committee meeting of the year held at the weekend in Lusaka.

"After successfully hosting Zone Six club championships last October, ZBA was asked to host the Under-18 but declined as there are other areas of focus we wish to channel our efforts. We are looking at youth development with the aim of rebuilding the national team," Kaona said.

The international events ZBA is committed to take part in 2014 are the Under-18 African Championships which Zambia has to qualify by winning the Zone Six Under-18 Championships in May whose host nation is yet to be announced.The Under-18 Africa championship will serve as qualifiers for the World Under-19 Championships scheduled for next year.At the meeting, it was resolved to begin the league season during the Easter weekend on April 18 while the ZBA annual general meeting will be held on March 15.Kaona said a technical wing headed by national technical co-ordinator, Lovemore Sikaale will meet a cross section of coaches to recommend the strategies.A coaches forum will be held at the end of February where matters of who works with various age groups will be tackled.ZBA will also use the forum to launch its process of selecting and preparing its under-20 men and women's national teams to take part in the seventh Zone Six SADC Under-20 games slated for Harare, Zimbabwe in December.