Basketball in Africa

MOMBASA county is set to host a regional basketball tournament after being identified as the most ideal venue for the ninth Africa Zone 5 club Championship. The world basketball governing body, Fiba-Africa chapter intends to fly in eight other teams to join the hosts Kenya in the competition scheduled for August 25-31 in port city. Coast Basketball Association (CBA) yesterday said they have already been formally notified of the forthcoming week-long championship and were in the process getting ready. CBA chairman Ali Hilmy said Fiba wrote a letter to communicate the same last week.

The championship brings twenty players for each of the men and women teams from Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya will be represented by both men and women's team with each team comprising 20 players. "We have received the communication from Fiba and we have already formed a committee to organise the event in Mombasa. We feel very honoured," said Hilmy. The teams must be accompanied by international referee and federation official nominated by Fiba.