HARARE A crippling power struggle has split the Harare Basketball Association (HBA) into two rival factions, throwing the capitals basketball league into disarray. (Pictured: Basketball player A vicious power struggle has split the Harare Basketball Association into two rival leagues)Confusion started earlier this year when HBA re-elected Roderick Takawira as chairman for another term and the games mother body Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ) declared the election null and void, saying that it did not comply with the national associations constitution.
BUZ president Addison Chiware ordered fresh elections. Some of the HBA clubs met and elected Gilchrist Mangezah as the chairman and BUZ endorsed his election.
But other clubs refused to participate in the BUZ-sanctioned elections accusing the national association of trying to manipulate events so that they control the national elections by hand-picking the people who will vote for them.
They remained affiliated to the Takawira-led association and refused to recognise the Mangezah-led board, throwing the Harare basketball league into disarray with teams registering under two rival associations.
The split means that basketball fans will this year miss some of the local games most thrilling encounters as some of the top teams whose epic clashes over the years has captivated the games followers in the capital will be playing in separate leagues.
The association led by Takawira has penciled October 10 as the day the Harare basketball league season will explode into life. Heavyweights such as Stanbic Mavericks and Varsity Leopards are some of the 12 clubs that have so far confirmed their participation in the Takawira-led league.
On the other hand the Mangezah-led association has said league matches begin on October 2 with basketball giants such as JBC, Raiderz and Kingdom Cavaliers battling it out for honours.
The power struggle has left a section of the basketball players worried about their future in the game.
It is so disturbing; my personal feeling is that the HBA committee led by Rody (Takawira) has people who have the game at heart, those who have stood by basketball because they have passion for it.
They are the people whom we trust because we know they will want to see the sport grow. But honestly if Im to play for the new HBA it will only be because I will be afraid they will not consider me for national team selection, said one player who declined to be named.
Politics has hit the game and if these guys dont sit down and talk, our progress in the region and Africa will be affected.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News