The much anticipated Zuku University Basketball Tournament (ZUBL) kicked off with an exhilarating and entertaining competition at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The tournament has received massive backing after East Africa Pay TV provider; Zuku injected KSh50 Million to run the league countrywide that includes coach and referee clinics and a basketball magazine show ‘Baqe’ airing on Zuku Sports. The sponsorship is further evidence of Zuku’s commitment to supporting and nurturing local talent. As a homegrown East African brand, Zuku is perfectly positioned to provide a platform that supports local sport in the region.
Zuku CEO Richard Bell said a basketball tournament is an ideal platform to engage the youth right from university in a bid to nature their talent; “The youth are very energetic and require an engaging forum to grow their talents even as they compete and enjoy themselves.”
The launch event also featured a game pitting journalists and celebrities against each other, providing good action and entertainment in addition to starring performances from local artists and dance group.
In addition, Samsung Electronics will support the league through a $100,000 sponsorship in the tournament that will bring together over 33 universities countrywide.
Samsung Electronics East Africa Chief Operating Officer Mr. Ngeru said, “We, at Samsung, are very passionate about supporting young sporting talent in the country. Through Kenya University Basketball league, we are delighted to be able to provide young promising basket ballers’ a chance to hone their inherent capabilities”.
“Basketball has a wide audience among youth, and we hope that our partnership with Zuku will inspire the players to give their best performance and reach accomplishments, aiming to create a new generation of professional players.” He added.
The day’s highlight was the game between Masinde Muliro University (MMUST) and USIU Tigers that marked the beginning of the 2012/13 season; set to take place for a period of 6-7 months. Other university male and female basketball teams played through the evening in the league that will run across the Nairobi, Western, Coast and Central regions.
Bell said that the university league has a lot of untapped potential and will be a force to be reckoned with, as it progresses.
Audiences across Africa will be able to catch the action on Zuku Sports, Channel 301 and Zuku Sports HD.
Zuku Sports has been entrenching into various sports territory in the pay-tv sector. Recently, Zuku launched a football show dubbed ‘Ingwe TV’ designed to inform and entertain AFC Leopard fans across the country.
Results
USIU FLAMES 28/84 VS UON DYNAMITES 20/30
12/16/29/27 09/11/06/04
22 pts Hilda Indasi 09 pts Marsha Owiti
13 pts Emma Nyakweba
JKUAT 39/74 VS MASENO 19/59
17/22/17/18 10/09/17/23
16 pts Guyton Kijuba 17 pts Basil Ogembo
13 pts Richard Adega
DJS 20 VS MEDIA STARS 21
USIU TIGERS 29/81 VS MASINDE MULIRU 23/54
16/13/22/30 10/13/13/18
18 pts Jamal Mustafa 33 pts Alex Lugasi
12 pts Dennis Shamala
