The Central Zone Basketball League (CEZOBAL) has devised an initiative where it will be taking teams to play at the home courts of those teams outside Lilongwe.
CEZOBAL will start this initiative with Dream Team from Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), General Secretary for CEZOBAL Jim Chakholoma said it has been in their plans to bring league games to Dzaleka considering the long-distance team's travel to get to Lilongwe.
He said: “We want to bring the game to their environment to ease their transportation costs and appreciate their efforts of coming to town.”
Chakholoma highlighted that the initiative was a pilot programme. It will be monitored if it is sustainable and extended to other teams based out of town.
“We just started the season, so we are actively discussing these plans with teams that have finalized their registration and we look forward to having games in Kasungu (Kasungu Sparks) and Salima (Parachuters),” he said.
In a separate interview founder and head coach of Dream Team Benard Tshibwabwa hailed CEZOBAL for the initiative, saying it has the potential to develop the sport in other districts and traveling teams have an opportunity to donate to refugees in Dzaleka.
“After speaking to the chairman of the league, we discussed having two or three games per month. So far Dream Team has played Central Knights and Hoops while the reserve team played Ubunthu Raptors and the home support was great,” he said.
Dream team comprises 70 percent refugees with 30 percent and has a standard court which was built after they sent a proposal to the National Basketball Association of USA through Corps Africa, JRs, and OCP.
(By Twimepoki Mangani, MANA)
This article was first published by Zodiak Malawi
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