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Takudzwa Chitsiga-Sports Reporter

PRINCE Edward School will this afternoon play host to the annual Eversharp Under-20 Schools National Basketball Tournament which returns after a two-year sabbatical because of Covid-19.

The two-day event’s curtain will come down tomorrow afternoon. 

Winners will walk away with cash prizes with the winners in both boys and girls categories taking home US$1 500, second-placed US$1 000 and third-placed US$750.

Champions in the girls’ section Girls High School will bank on their experience to help them defend the crown but will face competition from other seasoned campaigners.

With traditional powerhouses Mt Pleasant, Murehwa High, Evelin and Bradley all eyeing the big prize on the shelf, the champions have turned to their Harare Basketball Association League superstars to aid them in their bid to retain the title.

The tournament, which has grown in prominence over the last five years, has attracted 22 boys and 10 girls teams.

Tournament co-ordinator, Sledge Chinyoka, said all is in place to host the tournament which was last held in 2019.

“Welcome to this year’s edition of the Eversharp Under-20 Basketball Tournament. Fixtures and the verification process have been done and we look forward to a competitive event. There will be some Zimbabwe Under-16 teams in both categories for them to have an opportunity to train ahead of upcoming national events,” said Chinyoka.

Eversharp marketing manager, Tonderai Kamusoko, said they are happy to have the tournament back and are looking forward to a competitive tournament.

“We are happy that the tournament is back after it was affected by Covid-19 and as we are celebrating our 50th anniversary, we saw it fit to have a bigger and better tournament. As Eversharp, we have always been supportive of physical well-being of our major stakeholders who are schools and the nation at large, so by supporting sport we also expect to build careers for the students. Sport gives opportunities and this is our way of saying thank you as they help us celebrate our 50 years in existence.

“We are looking forward to make the event bigger and better with each passing year,” said Kamusoko. 

Teams

Girls: Conway College, Dominican Convent Bulawayo, Dominican Convent Harare, Girls High, Petra, Sodbury, Zimbabwe Under-16, Dzivarasekwa 2, Marchwood, Chinhoyi High. 

Boys: Allan Wilson, Prince Edward,St John’s College, Peterhouse, Watershed, Falcon, Lomagundi, Heritage, Churchill, Sodbury, H.I.S., Zimbabwe Under-16, Petra, Riverdale Academy, Marchwood, Dzivarasekwa 2, Conway College, Kutama College, CBC,Wise Owl, Chinhoyi High.