The organisers of the continental basketball tournament for professional clubs - The Basketball Africa League, have officially announced the postponement of the inaugural season of the league to next year 2021. The tip off, which was scheduled for March this year, was postponed indefinitely due to the global outbreak of the deadly COVID-19.
In an email sent by the BAL President, Amadou Gallo Fall to Nigeria`s representative in the league - Rivers` Hoopers, he explained that the postponement was a difficult by necessary decision.
`We had hoped to launch the league before the end of the year, and our hosts in Rwanda were excited and prepared. However, the second COVID wave in Europe and North America has created further uncertainty in the global transportation, logistics, shipping and supply chain systems and hampered our planning.
This uncertainty has added significant complexities in bringing over 400 players, team personnel, staff, partners and equipment from over 15 countries for such an event. In light of the prevailing situation, we have decided to shift our focus to launching the inaugural BAL season in 2021.`
The email alluded to the fact that plans were underway to host the tournament in a single location, Rwanda in the second week of December as earlier reported.
No specific date or month has been decided for the tournament. It is also uncertain if the format will be reverted to 6 host cities for regular season games and Rwanda for final Playoffs or a single-location for the league.
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