Nine teams confirm entry for FIBA Africa Zone Five show in Dar es Salaam

 

DAR ES SALAAM (Tanzania) - Nine teams are set to battle it out in the FIBA Africa Zone Cup for Women 2022 Club Championship slated for the Tanzania Port City from 26 September to October 1. It's a qualifier for the 2022 FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women.

Vitalis Gode, the Zone Five Secretary while confirming the entries also revealed that the stage is set for the six day competition that will be played at the National Stadium in Dar Es Salaam.

But the most welcome news is that for the first time a team from Southern Sudan will for the first time grace the region tournament which is a big plus for the continued spread of the game.

There is little doubt that all attention will be paid to the arrival on the scene of the South Sudanese  representative - Nile Sisters. Though not much is known of this team but their participation is the most welcome news.

Since joining the continental scene in 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya, the performance of South Sudan senior men's team on the continental podium has been awesome. And expectations are high the ladies can also make their mark.

Kenyan clubs have dominated this event over the years with sixteen time national champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Equity Bank Hawks who have won the crown thrice will once again lead the title hunt.

The other teams that have confirmed they will parade in Dar Es Salaam, are Sporting Club (Egypt), APR and REG (Rwanda), Young Sisters (Burundi), Walkite (Ethiopia) and Vijana Queen (Tanzania).

While KPA and Equity Bank Hawks battled it out in an all Kenyan finals last year with the porters prevailing 71-35 in the end over the bankers, this year with the appearance of the Egyptian side and two Rwandese teams, there  is every indication, it will be a highly competitive show.

KPA who were upset  by JKL Dolphins of Uganda in the 2019 title game at the same venue, are determined to make it to their third finals in a row. already veteran coach Anthony Ojukwu has already out his charges under intense trainings.

 

The tactician is aware that besides Equity Bank, the presence of Sporting Club, REG and APR is an indication that the tournament will be a lot tougher that it was last year where only six teams took part in the event.

"We know it will be tougher than the previous one. But I am already having the girls in strict training after our league game against Zetech University Sparks in Mombasa over the weekend. We are good to go." Ojukwu offered.

Equity Bank tactician David Maina yesterday said his side has also intensified their training ahead of the show. the team has a league assignment as they are programmed to play Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Lynx.

Tanzania's Don Bosco, the Hoops from Rwanda and Gladiators of Burundi who were part of show last year will miss out this time but this championship will sure live up to its billing.

With the top team assured of a ticket to the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women, it will be a tight duel as it will be competitive. For Tanzania, this will be the third successive club tournament they are hosting in the region in recent years.

Last year, besides the zonal competition, Tanzania also hosted the  Basketball Africa League (BAL) club qualifiers with great success.

FIBA