Story by Mthokozisi Dube
BULAWAYO -THE newly-elected Bulawayo Basketball Association (BBA), executive has pledged to grow the sport with emphasis on the girl child.
Taking a cue from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA)’s stance of involving the girl child in sport through the ‘Her World Her Rules programme,’ the newly elected BBA executive is hoping to ride on the programme and ensure the active involvement of the girl child in the sport.
Retained president Mthandazo Mono said the focus for the hybrid executive is to ensure the cross-pollination of ideas to grow the sport, with a bias towards the girl child.
“I want to thank the basketball community for entrusting us to lead them. It is my second and last term according to the Constitution, but I want to leave a legacy were more girls take up the sport. Last year we had twelve officials who were certified to officiate in bigger tournaments after hosting an officials’ course. We now have a third-tier league with many female teams. We want to promote that as we see out our term,” Mono said.
In a different portfolio from the previous executive, Tinodaishe Gumbo comes in as the association’s Secretary General, hoping to tap on ideas from old horses.
“It is a pleasure that I was retained but in a different capacity. Ours is to create links with schools to see that the sport has a sound footing at grassroots level,” Tinodaishe Gumbo said.
Other members of the executive include Admire Chafa in charge of the technical side of the game, Tanaka Masarirambi in charge of the purse, Andile Chirinda in charge of competitions, Zanele Nzima in charge of women and youth quota and Maurice Mazhandu in the marketing portfolio.
The Bulawayo Basketball Association has passed a litmus test to host high-profile basketball tournaments after hosting the Zone Six Afrobasket qualifiers and has since shifted focus to next year’s national league.
