Southern Zone Basketball League (Sozobal) Chairperson Mr Raymond Chioko has hailed the 2023 season which has showcased great talent and electrifying games. Chioko made the following remarks during a preparation meeting for week 7 league matches which took place between 26th and 27th August 2023 at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) Sports Complexes in Blantyre.
“The season kicked off on 8th July 2023 impressively as all the teams appeared well prepared. Since the start, we have watched exciting matches and each weekend reveals encouraging team, play and individual brilliance for both men and ladies,” he said.
The SOZOBAL men’s division has 10 teams participating in the games and the ladies’ division has 8 teams currently playing in the league.
CDHIB is currently leading the log table with 14 points from 7 games having won all matches. They are followed by Crazy Warriors with 12 points from 7 games and Bricks who have 10 points from 6 games. CDHIB will try to maintain their unbeaten run when they play Bricks on Friday 01st September, 2023 from 6:30pm at KUHeS Sports Complex while Crazy Warriors plays MUST Gorillaz at Blantyre Youth Centre on Saturday 02nd September, 2023.
In the ladies division, Cobbe Ladies is leading the pack with 8 points from 4 games. Kukoma Eagles and Mikoko Mystics, have registered 6 points from 3 games and 6 points from 4 games played respectively. Cobbe plays MUBAS LadyCats at UNIMA while SPARKS plays Eagles on Sunday 02nd September, 2023 at Blantyre Youth Centre.
The teams are also preparing for the CDHIB Money in Bank National tournament scheduled to take place from 13th to 16th October 2023. This is an invitation tournament where the following teams qualified automatically by being in the top 3 in their respective leagues in the 2022 season:
Mens side Ladies side
CDHIB Sparks
Kamuzu Barracks (Defending Champions) Mikoko Mystics (Defending champions)
Bravehearts Eagles
Bricks Bravehearts Ladies
Crazy Warriors Arkangels
Central Knights Dynamites
Moyale Cobbe Ladies
ABC Lions Katana
We expect 12 teams in each category and the remaining slots will be filled by teams that will be invited based on the criteria to be used by the sponsors and SOZOBAL. The tournament will also be spiced up by the Madala Tournament to be competed by teams of those above 35 years. In the madala category we expect teams like TOP City, Hoops, Entrepreneurs, TNM, MRA, One Acres, Sundayballers and others to participate.
