South Africa to Host FIBA Africa Zone VI qualifying tournament for AfroBasket and All Africa Games 9th-15th January @ the University of Pretoria Indoor Sport Center
The Soccer World Cup has certainly sparked excitement around sport in South Africa, and with it gone, its legacy remains as the country continues to host international events. Basketball is one sport that has benefited from such a legacy as South Africa looks to host the FIBA Zone VI qualifying tournament for AfroBasket and All Africa Games courtesy of the National Lottery Board (NLB), Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in association with BasketballSA and FIBA Africa.
Many believe that the time for basketball to flourish in South Africa has finally come. As one would expect, this tournament should rekindle the excitement around the sport and hopefully start to see the 90’s growth in the sport happening again. With the launch of NBA Africa earlier this year, new found interest of the SABC in basketball and the possible launch of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 2011, this may well be exactly what basketball needs to get going again.
The Zone VI Qualifier games are to be held at the University of Pretoria (Tuks) Indoor Sports Arena which is one of South Africa’s premier indoor sporting facilities. To add to this, thanks to NLB funding, the venue will be kitted up with a basketball wooden floor, new electronic scoreboards, 24 second clocks and great branding around the venue to give it an international basketball event atmosphere. As a cherry on top, spectators will be able to witness Africa’s most successful basketball nation, Angola, with 10 Gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in their last 16 appearances in the FIBA Africa Championship tournaments. Other countries taking part in both genders include:
•Mozambique
•Malawi
•Zimbabwe
•Zambia
•And host country South Africa
and Botswana (Men only)
With Angola automatically qualifying to play in the FIBA Africa Championship by virtue of being the reigning champions, South Africa biggest threat would be Mozambique, whose basketball has greatly improved since the launch of their professional league.
So who will qualify? Come check it out for yourself. University of Pretoria Sports Center, 9th-15th January 2011