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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ) needs $57 000 to successfully host the Zone 6 Basketball Club Championships to be held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds in Bulawayo this month.

Sixteen teams from six countries, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana and hosts Zimbabwe, have confirmed participation in the tournament that’s set to run from October 20-29.

Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, chairman of the local organising committee and BUZ technical manager, appealed for assistance from the corporate world and is confident Zimbabwe will stage a memorable tournament.

“Our working budget is $57 000 and we have started engaging the corporate world to come on board and assist us hold a memorable competition. We are confident that we will manage to cover most of the things that some corporates have pledged to support in kind. We are appealing to the corporate world to come on board to partner us. We also intend to have some fundraising initiatives, which we will publicise soon,” said Ndlovu.

He said his committee will meet the Bulawayo Provincial Minister Judith Ncube today to brief her on their state of preparedness.

“We have a meeting with the resident minister on Monday where we will outline the hosting document, brief her on the state of readiness and find out how her office can help. Last week we met the Bulawayo City Council as well as the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation through the Sports and recreation Commission (SRC) to brief them on how the preparations are going,” said Ndlovu.

Meanwhile, Ndlovu said they were still awaiting the continental board to officially communicate with BUZ on teams that have been registered for the tournament.

Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana and hosts Zimbabwe managed to send their registration forms before last Friday’s deadline. BUZ were hoping for Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa and Namibia to register on deadline day.

Regional basketball powerhouse Angola are sending three teams, defending men’s champions Premiera Augosto and women’s sides Interclube and Premeira Augusto. Interclube have won a record five regional titles.

Angola were also expected to make a late registration for Libolo, who are set to compete in the men’s championships.
Malawi, who will be making a maiden appearance at the regional club finals, are sending two teams, Brave Hearts (women) and Central Knights, who will compete in the men’s category.

Three teams are coming from Mozambique, men’s representatives Ferroviario de Maputo and Ferroviario de Beira, while Ferroviario de Mahuta will compete in the women’s category.

Four Zambian teams UNZA Honeys and Naster Breeze are set to battle it out for the women’s honours, while UNZA Pacers and Matera Magic will play in the men’s category.

Botswana are being represented by Police Women and Police Men.

Bulawayo’s Lakers and Vixens from Harare were selected to represent Zimbabwe in the women’s competitions, with BUZ registering Foxes and City Hornets of Harare for the men’s categories.

BUZ are also waiting for the continental body to give them the green light to field Mercenaries from Mutare via the wild card. — @ZililoR