Basketball in Africa

By Brown Msyani

Tanzania basketball giants,JKT and Savio are brandishing their weapons for a fierce encounter to be held early next week at the National Indoor Stadium,Dar es Salaam.

The team's play to vie for Charity Shield which takes place annually between the winners of the Kili RBA League and Kili Super Cup.

The two sides played in the similar event last year and JKT managed to floor their opponents.

Dar es Salaam regional basketball body Chairman,Simon Msofe said the match for the Charity Shield aims at marking the official opening of the regional premier basketball league which goes as Kili RBA League.

Main players in the teams' encounter will be George Tarimo,Jije Makani and Mohamed Yusuf. The players were instrumental in Savio's title regain campaign that saw them snatching two major titles from JKT in the last year season.

JKT,the team that lead in fighting spirit,will bank on their playmakers,Ashraf Haroun and Frank Kusiga to feed Charles,Makene,Frank Simkoko and Mkumbo Mgendi upfront.

Savio's veteran player,Michael Mwita said next week's encounter will be a start of this year's campaign to clinch five basketball titles in the 2007/2008 season.

"After the shield,there will be Super Cup,Kili RBA and National Basketball League and Union League. We have two titles and JKT hold the remaining," he said.

JKT's top marksman,Charles Makene told Sunday Citizen during his team's training session at Mgulani JKT that the plan to hold all four basketball titles are foolproof hence they are sure of an easy victory next week.