Your Weekly Dose of FIBA Africa Zone 7 News: Basketball South Africa (BSA) and Basketball National League (BNL) face tensions amid a legal dispute. Angola's Olympic basketball hopes ended against Spain and Lebanon. 2024 BAL champs Petro de Luanda weigh key player contract renewals.
Last Updated on
July 11, 2024
Emmanuel Shine
Staff Writer
Basketball South Africa (BSA) and the Basketball National League (BNL) remain at an impasse. BSA refuses to recognize the BNL or use it as a pathway for teams to qualify for the Basketball Africa League (BAL). BSA asserts that it did not renew its contract with BNL after it expired in September 2023 and has reverted to the club championships as the route to BAL qualification.
The BNL, however, contends that it holds a twenty-year contract (valid until 2033) with an option for a ten-year extension. This disagreement has been taken to court for resolution. In the interim, players must choose between participating in the BNL or the club championships.
The BNL, which is televised on SuperSport and offers financial incentives, contrasts with the club championships, which provide a route to the BAL but lack television coverage and financial backing. Despite these differences, most top players have opted for the club championships due to their prestige and recognition by BSA, the national federation.
Angola aimed to end their sixteen-year Olympic drought in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Unfortunately, they lost to host nation Spain in their opening game, 89-81, followed by a 74-70 defeat to Lebanon. These losses eliminated them from the competition, extending their Olympic absence to sixteen years.
2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) champions Petro de Luanda have yet to renew the contracts of two of their biggest stars, Jone Pedro and Carlos Morais. Both players have been pivotal to the club's dominance in African basketball, with Carlos Morais being considered one of the greatest African players of all time. Their future moves will be closely watched this summer.
