Basketball in Africa

US based 7.3 ft basketballer Hasheem Thabeet with the Secretary General of the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) Lawrence Cheyo (centre) with his first ever coach Henry Mwinuka of Savio BC after the press conference today in Dar es salaam (Photo by Muhidin Michuzi)

The Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) has announced names of the players who will form the Dar es Salaam combined (‘Dream Team’) to participate in the inter city games in Nairobi.

TBF’s General Secretary Lawerence Cheyo said yesterday that the team would leave today and that games would also begin on the same day, ending on 27 May, this month.

He named the players and their positions as Ashraf Harun (JKT), Mohamed Yusuph (Savio), and Mohamed Mbwana (Chang’ombe boys), who are Points Guards.

Shooting guards are Jacob Marenga and Mohamed Ally (both from Vijana), the small forwarders are George Tarimo (Savio) and Edmund Pastory (Mgulani), he said

He also added that the forwards are Alphonce Maboko (Pazi) and Oboto Mwambongo (Vijana) and Tumsifu Apolo (JKT), Gilbert Batungi (ABC) and Alex George (TZ Prisons) will dominate centers.

“The team is composed of two coaches who are Bahati Mgunda and Tubert Matiku,” he said

Meanwhile the president of TBF, Richard Kasesela, said today that the NCCA basketball team is expected to arrive in Tanzania soon.

The Young Life Trust of Tanzania and Young Life Trust of America have sponsored the NCCA team to come and play as well as motivate the youth of Tanzania.

Kasesela also said that it was through NCCA that Hasheem Thabit was able to obtain a full sponsorship to go to the U.S.

He urged the youth of Tanzania to emulate Hasheem’s example by showing their skills as TBF is cooperating with various regional leaders to scout people with good basketball qualification and introduce them to the program.

“Education goes hand in hand with basketball so people should not expect full sponsorship without having the spirit to study,” he added.