University of Johannesburg to host 14 African universities for FASU Basketball Championship
Student basketeers from fourteen (14) African universities will compete to be crowned African champions in the upcoming 5th Federation of African University Sport (FASU) 3×3 Basketball Challenge at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Soweto Campus from 22 to 25 June 2023. Held every second year, the last competition in 2021 was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya.
The 3×3 (pronounced 3 on 3) basketball features three players in each team as opposed to the five in traditional basketball games. Only one substitute is allowed to sit on the bench in 3×3 basketball, with players coming on and off anytime during the game’s dead ball break.
Participating universities from outside South Africa
The visiting students outside of South Africa will be representing institutions such as the United States International University-Africa (USIU) in Kenya, Mulungushi University in Zambia, University of Ibadan in Nigeria, Ndejje University in Uganda, the American University in Cairo in Egypt, BOTESSA in Botswana, Kotebe University of Education from Ethiopia, University of Mauritius, and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.
Locally, UJ students, together with students from North West University (NWU) Vaal Campus, will also compete in the intense two-day showdown.
UJ senior men’s basketball team vs Makerere University in Nairobi Kenya
Speaking on the much-anticipated tournament, Ms Nompilo Zondi, Chairperson: Local Organising Committee for the tournament says, “The Organising Committee has been hard at work to ensure that all the participating teams, especially the visiting teams, enjoy the games and their stay in the City of Johannesburg. As the host institution, UJ will make sure that the championship is a success like with previous tournaments. We have to be meticulous in our approach because UJ will be hosting the championships until 2025.”
The FASU 3×3 Basketball Challenge is organised once every second year. In 2021, USIU played host to the participating institutions, with student-athletes from Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, among others, participating in the competition.
According to Ms Marissa Langeni, CEO: University Sport South Africa (USSA), this tournament provides an excellent platform for talented African university students to showcase their basketball prowess. “The student-athletes who will be participating in this tournament will not only be competing to be crowned the African champions, but they also all know that winning the tournament will send them to the FISU World Student Championships later this year. So, the stakes are high, and we look forward to high octane, competitive basketball games in Johannesburg,” says Ms Langeni.
Excitement and anticipation from the hosting institution, UJ
Elize le Roux, Manager of UJ Basketball Club, expressed her enthusiasm for hosting their African counterparts in the FASU 3×3 Basketball Championships over the next three years.
“We can’t wait to welcome them to UJ on the 22 of June 2023 at our Soweto Campus. We look forward to a successful tournament that exhibits the great talent we have here in our African universities. We wish all the teams the best in the competition and hope that the Orange Army (UJ) goes all the way to the final.’’
The games will be open to all internal and external spectators. Students, staff and the local Johannesburg communities are welcome to attend for free.