By Staff Writer
The 2021 edition of the preseason basketball tournament will kick off on October 23 2021, Bulawayo Basketball Association (BBA) has confirmed.
The annual tournament has been reconfigured this season and has been turned into a classification tournament for the association’s A League after the 2019-2020 season failed to end. As a consequence, there was no relegation or promotion and the association’s congress resolved to hold a qualifying tournament instead.
10 men’ teams will take part and fight for the seven A League slots available.
The development was confirmed by Francis Dube the secretary-general of the BBA in an exclusive interview with Ezemidlalo this Tuesday after Government okayed the resumption sports activities.
Initially, the BBA league start was scheduled for October 9 with the pre-season tournament preceding the start of the league proper. But it was postponed because the teams had only just started training.
Dube noted that the official dates for the new season will be announced after the pre-season tournament.
“The preseason tournament will be played on October 16 at venues to be announced during the week. But the teams that have not yet submitted how they will abide by the government guidelines to prevent against Covid-19 must do so by the time the tournament begins so that they are allowed to participate,” Dube said.
The teams in the men’s category are: Mavericks, Highlanders, City Knights, City Royals, Giants, Lakers, Legends, Clippers, Oilers and Nust.
