Basketball in Africa

By Mabvuto Phiri
Lusaka

THE Sprite Challenge Basketball championship starts today in Ndola with defending champions Hetro Bullets taking on Barclays Magic in the quarterfinals of the K40 million rich event.

Bullets, the surprise package of last season, engage a wounded Magic side that has had an indifferent start to the league season especially with the departure of coach Lovemore Sikaale to Ndola.
With Bullets enjoying top form in the Northern Zone league, Magic will have to be at their best to get past the Copperbelt side.

However, the return of playmaker Sizi Kuntepa to the Magic ranks after his coaching programme in South Africa seems to have added some fire to the bankers' play.

In another match, Southern Zone powerhouse NAPSA Hurricanes date Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) in a match that is seriously tilted in favour of Hurricanes.
Lechwe Steel has been pitted against Green Eagles while First Quantum Nets face UNZA Pacers.

Women's champions Nets of Lusaka have earned passage to the semi-finals after their quarterfinal opponents Lechwe Steel pulled out following failure to come up with a full team.
Nets were seeded first during the draws as last year's runners up Green Buffaloes were seeded second.

Buffaloes will encounter fellow Lusaka team Shells who have problems following the departure of some of their key players to join UNZA Pacers and will look to fixing their next round berth.CEC's women's team will face Lootresses as UNZA Honeys take on Ndola Woosters.
ZBA general secretary Mwembe Kaona warned all the teams to be punctual to avoid unnecessary delays.
Kaona added that the prize money for the winners would be announced at a later stage.