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Ellina Mhlanga

Senior Sports Reporter

BASKETBALL Union of Zimbabwe president, Joe Mujuru, says they are going to engage the International Basketball Federation, after they were slapped with a US$50 000 fine.

This followed BUZ’s failure to send the Under-16 teams, for the Afro-basket Championships, currently underway, in Egypt.

Zimbabwe had confirmed their participation for both boys and girls.

However, Mujuru said due to the suspension of sport in the country, and the lockdown, they could not send their teams.

He said they had also not received clearance to make the trip.

“I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault, I don’t think it’s BUZ’s fault because we did the best we could, and we were ready to travel, until the last minute,’’ said Mujuru.

“I don’t think it’s the SRC’s fault because we all saw the (Covid-19) cases going up, in our country, and it’s certainly not FIBA’s fault because they have organised a very good competition.

“So, now, we are at a point where when you don’t attend a FIBA competition, which you had otherwise confirmed, you should get fined.

“There is nothing wrong when the principle works with that policy.

“Unfortunately, for us, we had two teams that were qualified to take part at this competition, which makes US$25 000 per team into US$50 000, so that’s the situation.’’

Mujuru said they advised FIBA about their plight, last month, when they realised they were not going to make the trip.

“However, everybody is aware that we are in a situation, as a continent, of Covid and we are also aware of the sensitive nature of the age of the players, we are talking about,’’ he said.

“So, we initially wrote to FIBA, I think around the 24th or 25th of July, advising them of the obtaining situation in Zimbabwe.

“That, we are in a situation where we are in lockdown and it’s affecting all sport codes, be advised that we may, or we may not come, depending on how everything works out.

“FIBA acknowledged receipt of our confirmation. In fact, they even confirmed it by a verbal phone call, to myself.

“We advised FIBA again on the 30th, that we now are unable to go, so what we have now is the initial kick-in of a policy.

“We hope and we think that when the dust settles, the competition is done on the 15th in Cairo, we will have to sit down and be able to review the situation, given the circumstances.”

The BUZ president said they would have wanted to take part in the competition.

“It’s unfortunate, we would have wanted to be part of this competition because it’s Under-16,’’ he said.

“After two years of no competition, it was important for us to start at the bottom with the 16s and 18s, but we were unable to.

“But it’s fine, I don’t think it’s any one’s fault, no need to panic, Zimbabwe is not banned from any competition.”