The Analamanga Regional Basketball League (LRBBA) has spoken out against the Kianja Barea Mahamasina Heritage Society (KBM) during the U14 national championship held at the Mahamasina Sports Palace. Through its president, Haingo Mampionona Ratovo, the league denounced organizational difficulties and reception conditions it deems detrimental to the smooth running of the competition.
“We are not looking for conflict, but we want young people to play in safe conditions and for organizers to be treated as true partners,” stated the LRBBA president.
Among the main grievances is the state of the court, which is considered particularly slippery. The league claims it offered to fund painting work and found a partner willing to do it for free. However, these initiatives did not materialize, and the choice was made to apply an anti-slip wax due to time constraints.
The LRBBA also pointed to issues with lighting management. According to the league, the floodlights were turned off while a match was still in progress, despite payment for an extra hour, exposing young basketball players to the risk of accidents.
It also mentioned misunderstandings with technical managers regarding electricity usage by catering providers, as well as rental fees for courts and spaces under the stands, which are considered excessive for a youth competition.
For its part, the KBM Society downplayed the controversy. “For us, the U14 national summit is continuing normally, without any problems. The root of the problem may be a lack of communication and a difference of opinion regarding the quality of the paint proposed by the league, which does not meet the required standards,” explained Seheno Ranarison, KBM’s commercial director.
She also recalled that the deadlines requested by the league (two days before the start of the national summit) did not allow for the court to be repainted properly before the championship kickoff, as the work requires at least two days.
Beyond this controversy, the LRBBA is calling for better consultation between infrastructure managers and basketball stakeholders to prevent such disputes from recurring during future national competitions.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-06 06:09:26 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/basketball-5×5-u14-la-ligue-danalamanga.html