KBA Independence Cup preparations at advanced stage
Preparations for the 2017 Khomas Basketball Association (KBA) Independence Cup are at an advanced stage, with teams expected to start registering soon to participate in this year's tournament.
Speaking to Nampa in a telephonic interview on Monday, KBA competition director Allan Nghixulifwa said they expected this year's tournament to be bigger and better than last year, with at least 10 men's and five women's teams expected to register, including the Botswana police, which won the women's tournament last year. The provisional date for the start of the tournament is 10 March, with the finals set to take place on Independence Day, 21 March. All games are expected to be played at the University of Namibia gymnasium in Windhoek.
Winners will be awarded with a floating trophy and medals, while the runners-up will get medals only.
Nghixulifwa said invitations were sent out last Thursday to interested parties, and the deadline for registration is 3 March. “We will make provisions for late registration to encourage teams to register,” he said. Lions Basketball Club, the defending champions for the past three years, are not participating, citing ongoing consultation on fundamental incompatibilities with the KBA.
“We will compete for the league title but at this point in time we do not agree on fundamental issues and having expressed these clearly, we will refrain from the Independence Cup,” Lions co-owner and coach Anthony Williams Auchab said on Tuesday.
Auchab said these included the KBA's failure to source sponsorship for the league and cup, lack of accountability and unclear or irregular transfers of players by some teams.
The tournament serves as curtain raiser for the most popular basketball league in the country, the KBA.
NAMPA
Speaking to Nampa in a telephonic interview on Monday, KBA competition director Allan Nghixulifwa said they expected this year's tournament to be bigger and better than last year, with at least 10 men's and five women's teams expected to register, including the Botswana police, which won the women's tournament last year. The provisional date for the start of the tournament is 10 March, with the finals set to take place on Independence Day, 21 March. All games are expected to be played at the University of Namibia gymnasium in Windhoek.
Winners will be awarded with a floating trophy and medals, while the runners-up will get medals only.
Nghixulifwa said invitations were sent out last Thursday to interested parties, and the deadline for registration is 3 March. “We will make provisions for late registration to encourage teams to register,” he said. Lions Basketball Club, the defending champions for the past three years, are not participating, citing ongoing consultation on fundamental incompatibilities with the KBA.
“We will compete for the league title but at this point in time we do not agree on fundamental issues and having expressed these clearly, we will refrain from the Independence Cup,” Lions co-owner and coach Anthony Williams Auchab said on Tuesday.
Auchab said these included the KBA's failure to source sponsorship for the league and cup, lack of accountability and unclear or irregular transfers of players by some teams.
The tournament serves as curtain raiser for the most popular basketball league in the country, the KBA.
NAMPA
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