The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
MANICALAND Basketball Association (MBA) has pencilled the commencement of the 2019/20 season to September 14 following a meeting with clubs representatives.
The league has welcomed five new clubs which include Midlands State University (both men and women teams), Mutare Teachers College (both men and women teams), Rusape based Kriste Mambo (women) and Dangamvura Tigers in the B league. Saints team is still to confirm their participation in the men’s A league.
MBA president Tonderai Shasha confirmed the date and highlighted that it would give clubs time to prepare for the league’s kick off.
“The 2019/20 season will kick off on September 14. This will give ample time to both the clubs and the executive to prepare. The club subscription fee will be $300 for each of the eight teams in the men’s category and the eight-team women’s league. There is a lesser fee for the six-team that is playing in the B league. The lesser fee on developmental league is a way to incentivise more teams and clubs to come on board,” he said.
MBA is divided into A and B league. A league is made up of eight teams in both male and female categories, while B league is made up of six male teams.
Shasha said that they were expecting more teams to join the league.
“We are leaving room for more teams to join our league. We have one team, Saints which might join us in the men’s A league. They are still to confirm. This season is more promising and we hope to attract sponsorship. Last season, we struggled financially and we managed to get sponsorship from Casa De Liquor. We are appealing to corporates to come on board and sponsor the league. A lot of people support soccer and basketball is also growing in terms of popularity hence the need for sponsorship,” he said.
Mercenaries are the defending men’s champions while Dangamvura Knights are the defending champions in the women’s league.
