Enthusiasm at Minibasket tournaments

Thirty-five teams hailing from 13 different Minibasket centres in Malta are participating in this season's Kinnie Minibasketball 2002-2003 tournaments.

The season comes to an end in May with a final event bringing all the age-categories together for a morning of fun and games.

Organised by the Malta Basketball Association (MBA) and sponsored by Malta's national soft drink, Kinnie, the teams are divided into five categories.

These are the Under-9 Mixed, Under-11 and Under-13 Boys, and Under-11 and Under-13 Girls. The young participants train at the various basketball centres around Malta.

The aim of the Kinnie Minibasket tournaments is to encourage aspiring young players and team participation rather than creating competition.

"This year we have seen the highest number of participants joining the Kinnie Minibasket tournaments," Frank Camilleri, general secretary of MBA, said.

"The initiative has generated great enthusiasm among the young players and we have had a good season so far. It provided the ideal opportunity for budding basketball enthusiasts to practise their favourite sport in a friendly atmosphere," Camilleri added.

Joanne Scerri Valentino, Kinnie brand executive at Farsons, said: "Kinnie has been committed to support basketball for quite a number of years, in particular the Kinnie Men's National League and Kinnie Minibasket.

"We are pleased that the Kinnie Minibasket tournaments are now a fixture in our sports calendar and hope to continue our association with the event."

The training starts again in October 2003. Interested children aged between 9 and 13 years, who would like to join one of the centres, may contact the MBA.

The children are placed at basketball centres according to their desired locality.

Further information may be obtained from the MBA website: www.mba.org.mt