Change of format as basketball season starts

Thato Kala | Friday August 8, 2014 13:13

 

Traditionally, the basketball season starts in April, but this year, this did not happen because Botswana was hosting the Africa Youth Games. Because of reduced numbers, there will be no top four clash at the end of the season in the men’s competition. Instead, the top eight men’s teams will engage in a knockout format while the top four women sides will be pitted against each other and not the normal three.

BBA public relations officer, James Kalebwe said their plan is to finish the league programme in November. “It is always exciting to start a new season, everyone is looking forward to a more competitive season. Some players have moved to new teams, so it is quite exciting,” he told Mmegi Sport.

Two games will be staged at the UB Courts with Spartans taking on Botho University at 6pm before the women clash between UB Relics host Police.

Dorothy Okatch officiates her first match as an internationally accredited umpire after passing the test to become the country’s first FIBA official last month. Okatch attended the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) course in Madagascar and made it. She handles the Troopers-Flames clash tomorrow and Kalebwe is convinced upcoming officials have a lot to learn from her. “A lot of young officials were inspired by what she has achieved and such a young age. We believe there is a lot they can learn from her as she is one of the best in terms of interpreting the rules of the game,” he said.

Last year, the three people BBA sent to the FIBA course failed. Kalebwe said it is exciting that the country’s first FIBA official is female. He added that BBA’s target is to have five internationally accredited referees by 2019.

The development saves BBA from paying $1,500 (P13,286) fines each time the association sends teams to international tournaments for failure to bring along a FIBA referee.

Meanwhile, Africa Youth Games’ finding, Eric Sentongo concludes his Basketball Without Borders, Africa training tomorrow in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was among 60 promising basketball players from across Africa who participated in the National Basketball Association (NBA) programme. The players, aged 19 and under, were drawn from 26 countries and were selected by FIBA, the NBA and participating federations based on their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport.