By GRACE CHAILE –

THE Teulings Basketball league kicked off yesterday at Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka with 34 teams participating.
Co-ordinator John Zimba said the 34 were a mixture of schools and community-based teams.
Zimba said the increase in the number of teams that were participating was encouraging and a pointer that basketball was heading in the right direction.
“The teams are coming from schools and communities. There are six under-13 teams, 12 under-15 girls and 16 under-17 boys. This season we are expecting tough competition and the grand final will be on October 11 where the winners will get medals and trophies,” he said.
Zimba said the championship was providing a rare platform for teenagers to improve their basketball skills.
“It takes competition for one to assess his or her skills. These children have a passion for basketball and all they need is a platform to learn and nurture their talent. Countries like Angola have made a name in basketball not by luck but because they begin to nurture the talent at a tender age,” he said.
The under-13 boys teams in the competition are Kabulonga School, Matero Magic, Badoko, Sport in Action and Buffaloes while the under- 15 girls are Northmead School, Jacaranda School, Green Buffaloes, Copper Tigresses, Kabulonga School, Hurricanes, Breath of health, Mapoloto, Sport in Action, SOS and Leopards.
Bull dogs, SOS, Kalingalinga School, Mapoloto, Copper Tigers, Mukango, Sport in Action, Tornadoes, Wild Dogs, Leopards, Jacaranda school, Kabulonga, Buffaloes and Hurricanes constitute the boys under-15.