The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND basketball powerhouse Mercenaries will be back on the court at Mutare Boys High Recreational Centre in yet another attempt to secure a ticket to the national finals if they succeed in the Zone One playoffs this weekend.
Manicaland Basketball Association (MBA) will be hosting the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe’s (BUZ) Zone One playoffs from today (Friday) to Sunday.
Top three male and three female teams will proceed to the national finals from the Zone One playoffs.
The national finals are set for May 26 to 28 at City Sports Centre in Harare.
BUZ Zone One consists of Manicaland, Harare, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central while Zone Two comprises Bulawayo, Midlands, Matebeleland North, Matebeleland South.
Top teams from Manicaland that include heavyweight Mercenaries, City Saints, Dangamvura Knights and Sakubva Hurricanes will rub shoulders with their counterparts from other provinces in Zone One.
Manicaland ladies’ clubs that are set to compete in the Zone One playoffs will be Diamond Mavericks and Swishers while Harare will have three male teams and three ladies’ teams in this weekend’s Zone One finals.
Harare Foxes and JBC ladies are the defending national male and female champions. Mutare giants Mercenaries lost in the finals last year in Bulawayo.
Manicaland Basketball Association communications officer, Overseas ‘Coach OT’ Matibini said they are expecting to witness some exciting and highly competitive matches in the Zona One finals.
“We are going ahead with the Zone One finals in Mutare at Mutare Boys High Recreational Centre from Friday to Sunday. Zone Two playoffs will be played this weekend as well in Bulawayo.
“This is a high profile tournament and we as Manicaland Basketball Association are proud to be hosting a national event. We are also happy to have Mutare Boys High Recreational Centre as our main venue because it has the standards for national competitions.
“This include, among other necessary amenities, flood lights, running water and clean rest rooms. There is enough space for parking and a safe warm up area,” said Matibini.
