Basketball in Africa

Two Northern Region Basketball giants Nkhulande and Moyale will from this afternoon exchange fire in the finals of the K800,000 G.Y Imports and Exports Northern Zone Basketball League (Nozoball) slated for Katoto Basketball Court in the northern city of Mzuzu.

To spice up the final- Bravehearts Basketball Club

Five teams joined the league, which saw the top four qualifying for a mini-tournament to determine two finalists.

Played on best-of-three basis, in which winners of two out of three matches proceeded to the final, the mini-tournament paired top team Nkhulande against third-placed Pistons with runners-up Moyale lining up against fourth-placed Ekwendeni.

After the best-of-three ties, Nkhulande and Moyale qualified for the grand final, which is also expected to be determined by a best-of-three contest involving the two.

The contest starts this afternoon with the first of the three matches at the Katoto Basketball court with the last two clashes scheduled for Sunday morning and afternoon. Whichever team wins two of the three matches will be crowned champions of the G.Y. Imports and Exports Nozobal League.

According to Nozoball vice president Aaron Manda, a cash prize of K300,000, trophy, medals and two basketballs will be presented to the winners with the runners-up going away with two balls and silver medals.

Spicing up the occasion on Sunday morning will be an exhibition match involving Lilongwe based Bravehearts and the Pistons.

Managing Director of G.Y Imports and Exports Griffin Kalua, whose company deals in ICT equipment, stationery, furniture and other office and household items said in an interview that the Lilongwe based firm was ready to honour the champions.

"We are well set to honour the champions and we urged Northern region basketball enthusiast to come in their large numbers and witness top-class basketball action," said Kalua, whose company recently sponsored an All Star Basketball Championship involving the three basketball zones of Southern Zone Basketball League, Central Zone Basketball League and Nozoball.