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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE annual two-day National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) national Under-20 basketball championships start at Eveline High School in Bulawayo with all provincial championships confirming participation.

The championships feature provincial champions and the schools are expected to start arriving today, with the draw being conducted this evening.

Nash head-in-charge of basketball Thompson Katanda said all was set for the tournament to start tomorrow.

“We are happy to be part of the development of basketball among young people. We offer our heartfelt welcome to those that are joining us for the first time and to those who consistently have been participating in this competition. We hope this weekend will be filled with fun, team building, networking and above all the spirit of competitiveness. We wish all the participating teams all the best and may the best team win,” said Katanda.

He urged teams to observe and display fair play on and off the court, saying discipline was key in any sport.

Hosts Bulawayo, will be represented by Nkulumane High in the girls’ competition, while and Christian Brothers College (CBC) will contest the boys’ event.
They will face stiff competition from Harare province, which has dominated previous tournaments.

Girls High from Harare have won the girls’ tournament five years in row and are favourites to make it a sixth consecutive victory.

The championships have produced stars that went on to represent the country at international level.

Participating teams
Province     Girls     Boys

Host:     Eveline Girls     Nkulumame High
2016 Champs     Girls High Harare     Churchill Boys
Bulawayo     Nkulumane High     Christian Brothers College
Manicaland     St Augustines Marist     Nyanga Boys
Mat South     Empandeni     Cyrene High
Mat North     St James     Mosi-oa-Tunya
Masvingo     Serima High     Serima High
Midlands     Loreto High     Kwekwe High
Harare     Roosevelt Girls     Prince Edward
Mash East     Goromonzi High     Chemhanza High
Mash West     Chinhoyi High     Kutama College
Mash Central     Howard     High Bradley High