Congo-Brazzaville: National Basketball Championships – The 38th edition officially launched

The Interclub seniors men suffered but ended up winning 49 baskets to 39 in front of AS Cheminots de Pointe-Noire during the meeting officially marking the launch, on August 24, by the director of sports activities, Clin Samba -Samba, and the president of the Congolese Basketball Federation, Bruno Jean Richard Itoua, of the 38th national championships at the Maxime-Matsima gymnasium.

In the other match played in this gymnasium, Club Athlétique Renaissance Aiglons (Cara) was surprised by Black Lions 52-48. The competition, which resumes its rights after the last edition held in 2019, pits twenty-one teams from the four categories, including cadet men, junior men and seniors in both versions. A total of 252 athletes came from four of the eight departmental leagues, namely Pointe-Noire, Niari, Bouenza and Brazzaville.

“We regret the non-participation of our young people from Sangha, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest and Lekoumou who, despite their many appeals to local sponsors and donors, have not been able to win their case for their trip. “, explained the president of Fécoket.

He intends to organize another tournament to allow the absent leagues to get up to speed. “We aim to organize the Congo Cup by the end of the year. We have a few other initiatives with the support of some associations that are beginning to flourish for basketball not only in Congo, but also abroad. with the sponsors who are slowly starting to come,” he said.

Bruno Jean Richard Itoua urged young basketball players to compete in fair play and discipline so that Congolese basketball can triumph. He also recalled his commitment to restore the dynamism to the discipline that he had lost following the decision taken by the government to give up the organization of Afro basket 2017. “The President of the Republic took the decision to settle the debt very quickly. It is only a matter of days and weeks. The Minister of Finance has been instructed firmly.

And as soon as the moral, psychological but also sporting bottleneck will have jumped, things will take another turn. With the national technical management, we are going to select the Red Devils, launch a preparation program to participate in major international competitions. This will have a ripple effect on the whole discipline, “he assured.

On August 23 for the account of the first matches, AS Otohô beat Etoile du Congo 55-34 in the cadets, Avenir du rail took the best of CPGOS from Pointe-Noire 53-45 before confirming in the juniors against the same team 68-56. Among the senior ladies, Brazza basketball dominated Anges noirs 63-36. Interclub 1 beat Interclub 2 (59-26). Black Lion won the senior men 65-55 against AS Grandeur.