The tournament is scheduled to run from November 20-27 and is too close to the Africa Club Championships in Mozambique that takes place between November 8-20. FIBA feels it may not be wise to stage the All Africa Games and Afro-Basketball qualifiers because the same club players will have just taken part in the club tournament. Botswana national team coach, James Kalebwe says they are still waiting for communication from FIBA. “Our preparations are currently going well. The team should go to camp in two weeks’ time. The only challenge is that FIBA Africa has hinted that the tournament might be postponed to late January. So we have to prepare till the information is confirmed before end of the week,” he says. Botswana’s representatives to the club championships, BDF V and Police V, have 15 players in the national squad that is supposed to take part in the qualifiers.
Kalebwe says that although they would continue preparing, the uncertainty over the qualifiers is affecting the national team. BDF confirmed their participation in the club championships after securing sponsorship. The 2014 Afro- Basketball qualifiers brings together countries like South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Angola and hosts Zimbabwe. Only two teams qualify for the Afro Basketball and the All Africa Games next year.
