by NELSON DIRENG
CORRESPONDENT africabasket.com
The Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) 2010 league gets under way tomorrow with last season's top four teams in action in what is traditionally termed 'rivalry weekend'. The first match is between Cadets and NIIT followed by a clash between BDF V and Police women's teams. The main attraction will be the match between Police and BDF V men who were third and fourth last year, before champions, Troopers, take on runners-up, Spartans. BBA league committee chairperson Kabo Khama said he expects an exciting league this year because a lot has changed within teams. He said that some teams have recruited new players.
Khama said their objective is to lure more spectators to basketball. He said that apart from 'rivalry weekends', they are going to have 'payback weekends' to allow teams to settle last season's scores on the courts. 'A team like BDF V, for example, cannot wait for such games because last year they lost to Cadets in a game where they (BDF V) fielded only three players,' he said. Khama said the new approach would help generate interest and more people would be attending matches as teams attempt to settle old scores on the field of play.
Other teams participating in the 2010 league are Flames, Falcons, Splinters, and Eagles. On the women's side, only four teams will be available: Police V, BDF V, NIIT and Relics. Meanwhile, BBA will award medals for the 2009 league tomorrow after the first game.The league finals, termed National Championships, were won by Troopers who beat rivals, Spartans.In the women's category, BDF V beat runner-ups Police to emerge the overall national champions.