by Leonard Sharra
Central Zone Basketball League (Cezobal) at the weekend held a gala night at Cresta Crossroads Hotel, where the league awarded its best achievers for the 2009 season.
During the ceremony champions Mimbulu were honoured with a trophy and certificate of excellence after defending the league title for an eleventh consecutive year.
Runners up Courgas, who lost to Mimbulu in the deciding match at ABC earlier in the afternoon also got a certificate of recognition.
Ladies champions Dynamites were also awarded with a trophy and certificate of excellence after pipping Lady Clippers to the title. The Clippers got a certificate of recognition.
ABC's Lady Lions got the award for most improved team in the women league while Dynamites were named the most disciplined side.
Coming to individual awards, Memory Ngalande of Lady Clippers was named the most improved player while the upcoming player accolade went to Atuweni Samu of Natural Resources College.
In the men's league, Courgas' Limbani Yatina was named the upcoming player with Hope Msowoya winning the most improved player award.
The top individual award of Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the men's and ladies' leagues went to Mimbulu's Albert Simango and Dynamites' Linda Magombo Munthali respectively.
Gracing the occasion was deputy Youth Development and Sports Minister Billy Kaunda, who commended Cezobal for honouring its achievers.
“It is good to honour people for what they have achieved as this enhances excellency and encourages everyone to work hard.
“I also thank all the players for their commitment, which attributed to the success of the league,” said Kaunda, urging the league to put much emphasis on talent identification.
Cezobal's chairman Kingsley Gwaza said the league had plans to develop young players through the establishment of a juniors league, which he said would kick off in January.
He said the league would involve secondary schools from central region.
The chairman hailed government for harmosing the school calendar, saying the government move would help ease problems that were being faced by sports bodies in formulating their calendar of activities.