Your Weekly Dose of FIBA Africa Zone 4 News: This week, journey to Madagascar as the 2023 women's champions set new goals, Mauritius where players prepare to compete, Reunion Island mourning a legendary coach, and Comoros, where Djabal Basket Iconi secured more silverware.
Last Updated on
November 11, 2024
Djabal Basket have reaffirmed their status as champions by retaining the Ngazidja regional title for the third year running! On Sunday October 27 2024,the team from Iconi brought the championship to a close with a bang, beatingAmisco from Moroni by a huge 107-58 scoreline. Djabal Basket have dominated the regional competition since 2022, consolidating their position as the benchmark for local basketball.
This latest victory opens the door to the national championship for Djabal Basket, where the club will fly the colours of the Ngazidja League. The tournament will be held in Fomboni, on the island of Mohéli, from the 25th to the 30th December, and will be another opportunity for Djabal to showcase its skills against the country's top teams.
MB2ALL is launching new reforms for the 2025 season, with the aim of the club returning to the title race. On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, the club has more than 700 members, from U10 to N1A.
"The club's success depends on the involvement of everyone, especially parents [of those] in the younger categories. We're aiming high for this anniversary," says Dr Jean Claude, the club's vice-president.
Although the club lost the Women's N1A Championship title this year to the GNBC ladies, Dr Jean Claude points out that the objective remains player training. Since 2015, MB2ALL has also welcomed a men's section, where there is still progress to be made.
"We're working on standardising our preparations to correct past mistakes," explains Ndranto Tagg, the team's coach.
With the integration of Océane, the best player, and Sarobidy, the top scorer at the U16 level, the team aspires to reclaim its position at the top.
The Malagasy men's and women's teams, who will be competing in the FIBA Africa 3x3 Cup in front of their home crowd in a few weeks' time, are actively preparing for the tournament. They meet every Saturday for physical preparation. Madagascar are among the favourites to win the competition, especially in the men's category, where they have already been crowned champions in the past. A total of 14 countries are expected to attend the 2024 edition of the FIBA Africa, with Kenya and Egypt looking to win back-to-back titles in the women’s and men’s tournament respectively.
The Mauritius Basketball Federation (MBBF) is set to host a year-end tournament with 21 teams registered. However, this will not be a conventional tournament format. Matches are scheduled to be 12 minutes long, with teams divided into five pools.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the next stage of the competition. The tournament will run from 16 November to 15 December at the Phoenix Gymnasium, Mauritius's basketball hub. While the main focus will be on men's teams, a women's competition is also planned, featuring invited teams from Rodrigues.
The new executive committee of the Mauritius Basketball Federation (MBBF), led by chairperson Stéphanie Soubanse-Hon Pin, has announced that one of its key priorities will be to elevate the status of women’s basketball.
This commitment is already in action, with a Free Summer Basketball Training Camp scheduled from 25 November to 13 December at the 1er Février Gymnasium in Roche-Bois, Port-Louis. Young girls aged 11 to 16 will have the opportunity to attend a full day of training at the camp. The initiative, championed by former national team player Corine Marguerite, has received strong support from the Federation.
The town of Le Port has lost one of its most emblematic sports figures. Victor Carlot, founder and coach of CSPBB, the local basketball club, was also a key figure in the Office Municipal des Sports (OMS). A cornerstone of basketball in Réunion Island, he was frequently called upon to lead the national team at the Island Games, contributing his invaluable experience and dedication.
Over the years, Carlot coached and mentored countless generations of young people from Le Port, leaving an indelible mark on the community. His passing is mourned by the entire town, both young and old, as they remember a man of passion, humility, and commitment—an educator who instilled essential values and tirelessly worked for the development of basketball and youth in the region.
In tribute to his legacy, Olivier Hoarau, the mayor of Le Port, sought and received approval from the town council to rename the Oasis Sports Complex in his honour. It will now be known as the Victor Carlot Sports Complex. Additionally, the Réunion Basketball League has renamed the Réunion Men's Youth Cup after the late icon, branding the tournament to the Trophée Victor Carlot.
[Photography/Imagery : Courtesy of Djabal Basket Iconi, Midi Madagascar, Le Mauricien, CSPBB]
