ZANZIBAR (Tanzania) - Eleven teams will battle for honours in the Women Basketball League Africa (WBLA) 2024 Zone Five Qualifiers scheduled for Oct 27 - November 2, in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
This will be the first time the Indian Ocean island will play host to the event since the regional competition started in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1995.
Top clubs from seven FIBA Africa Zone 5 countries will square it out in the championship to be held at newly constructed New Amaan Indoor Stadium.
And what a historic spectacle it will be for all the hoop lovers. One to forever cherish despite not having a home team.
Two-time winners Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) from Egypt will miss the extravaganza as they were stopped by fierce rivals Al Ahly SC.
Head coach Tarek Khairy, who guided the men’s side to the Egyptian title in 2016, will be calling the shots in clove island with his eyes firmly on the top prize.
Kenya champions Equity Bank Hawks, who won their only crown in 2018, and multiple winners Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will once again fly their country’s flag.
They are highly optimistic about their chances.
KPA was top in last year’s campaign in Kigali while Hawks were third. Both teams represented the region in the AWBL won by Alexandria Sporting Club at their back yard in Egypt.
The Dockers landed in Zanzibar on Wednesday afternoon after a two-week strict training and veteran coach Anthony Ojukwu remained optimistic.
"We had some good preparations for the last two weeks, and I believe we are ready to reclaim our championships."
"I have no injuries at all and the players morale are sky-high and they are highly-motivated,” he said.
He has boosted the side with four key foreign signings including Customs Nigeria’s Nkem Akariwe, Keita Veronica from Benin, Malians Alima Doumbia and Chantal Kiyobe from Rwanda.
KPA did well to make a first podium finish as they were placed runners up to ASC. Rwanda Energy Group (REG) just missed the bronze ending up fourth.
Hawks coach Ben Oluoch says training has gone on well and the girls are in high spirits. He has Cameroonian sensational, guard Mitchell Sokoudjou to ran the bankers back court.
JKT Lady of Uganda, FIBA Africa Zone 5 winners in 2019, APR of Rwanda, Vijana and Fox Divas both of Tanzania are the other participants.
Also in the mix are it out for the ticket to the AWBL are Gladiators and Young Sisters from Burundi ad well as Ethiopia's Hawassa City.
The show is expected to live up to its expectations with stiff competition coming from Al Ahly SC and KPA. Also in the mix are REG, Hawks and APR.
FIBA Africa Zone 5 President Hisham El Hariri hailed the competitiveness in the Zone, pointing out that ASC won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 with KPA coming third last year.
"It is expected to be very exciting qualifiers in East Africa Zone 5 especially after the last season 3 teams of the zone played the Semi-Final of AWBL in Alexandria," Hariri told FIBA.basketball.
"As president of Zone 5, I am happy that the number of participating teams have moved from nine clubs in Dar Es Salaam in 2022, 10 in 2023 and 11 this year."
He added: "It is also the policy of the zone to encourage the women activities according to FIBA objectives."
Last year, three Africa Zone 5 teams, ASC and KPA battled in the Finals in Alexandria while REG ending up fourth.
FIBA