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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
KHANYISILE Sports Centre courts will today play host to the Bulawayo Basketball Association (BBA) pre-season tournament that ends on Sunday.

The three-day competition will mark the beginning of the BBA 2017/18 season.

Admire Chafa, the BBA secretary, said the competition affords teams an opportunity to check their state of preparedness for the new season.

“We are ready to host the first tournament of the season and preparations have gone on well. Ten men’s teams and six women’s sides will compete in the tournament, meaning that basketball lovers are guaranteed an exciting sporting weekend.

“We decided to have the tournament at two venues so that we have enough time to get through the games. This is the first tournament of the season so it will be interesting to see how the teams will play. We expect to see quality basketball,” said Chafa.

Mavericks are the women’s defending champions and will be hoping to retain the title at the expense of Nust, Knights, Lupane State University and Lakers.

In the men’s category, reigning champions Giants will face stern competition from nine other teams, Highlanders, Mavericks, Oilers, Ostrich, Lupane State, City Knights, Glow and Nust, who are going to field two sides.

The league season will start on September 29 with the BBA seeking to spread the game to the western suburbs.

The BBA is also hoping to incorporate academies into the league as a way of creating a vibrant junior policy for the game. – @innocentskizoe.