Basketball in Africa

Gambia national basketball team will kick-start their campaign in the FIBA Zone II 3o3 over the weekend.

The team flew out to Mali Wednesday where they are to taste the deep waters of international competition again after 37 years of absenteeism.

While details about who they tussle in the opening stage remained sketchy at press time, the five-man Gambian side is understood to be prepared by coach Foday Singhateh.

The squad left via Brussels Airlines after funding from Gambia National Olympic Committee while government volunteered to foot the bill of players' allowances.

The Mali event dubbed, Zone II 303, in its first edition this year being staged by International Basketball Federation, will be Gambia's first appearance for over three decades.

The Bamako championship is a two-day event beginning 14th November.

The squad comprises: Muhammed Kebbeh (SK West), Cherno Bah (YMCA), Abdoulie Jarju (YMCA), Alasan Mbowe (Brikama) and Coach Foday Singhateh.

Gambia, ranked T-94, last starred in an international Basketball championship in 1978 in the African Championship where they finished 9th.

The outfit lost all its matches in Group A to opponents, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mauritania.