Sana'a - Saba:
The Yemeni Basketball Federation has announced the postponement of the start date for the 2024/2025 men's first division league.
Originally set to begin on December 5, the league will now commence on December 15. This decision was made in response to requests from regional branches of the Federation, citing the unpreparedness of sports halls scheduled to host the league's matches due to ongoing maintenance work.
The Federation emphasized its commitment to ensuring that the league's start across all governorates occurs at the same time, leading to a ten-day delay in the league's beginning.
The competition will feature eight teams: Wahda Sana'a (the defending champions), Ahli Sana'a (runner-up), Al-Tilal (third place), Shaab Hadramaut, Sayoun, Al-Mina, Shamsan, and al-Barq Tarim.
With the new start date, the match schedule has been adjusted, except for the sixth and final round (Sayoun Gathering), which will remain unchanged. The new dates are as follows:
- **First Round (Sana'a)**: December 15–26, 2024
- **Second Round (Sayoun)**: December 15–26, 2024
- **Third Round (Aden)**: December 15–26, 2024
- **Fourth Round (Sana'a Gathering)**: January 1–3, 2025
- **Fifth Round (Aden Gathering)**: January 15–20, 2025
- **Sixth Round (Sayoun Gathering)**: February 8–15, 2025
All teams will play against each other in a home-and-away format, and each team will play 14 matches throughout the league. The regulations ensure equal opportunities for all participating teams.
Additionally, the Federation's board has approved the registration of one Palestinian player as a local player for each team in both the men's and juniors categories, recognizing the difficult circumstances faced by the Palestinian people.
The upcoming first division champion will represent Yemen in international competitions, while the teams finishing in seventh and eighth place will be relegated to the second division. Each team is also permitted to register one professional player during the tournament.
This adjusted schedule and the inclusion of a Palestinian player reflect the Federation’s flexibility in accommodating the current situation while promoting fair competition.
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