26 December 2008

TANZANIA : Thabeet not for national team

By Majuto Omary

American based Tanzanian basketball player Hasheem Thabeet is unlikely to join the national team following a busy schedule.

One of the major reasons for Thabeet's unavailability is a possible loss of opportunity for career development plans to qualify for the NBA league in United States. Thabeet who features for the University of Connecticut is one of five players who stand a chance of joining NBA's top flight sides.
Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) secretary general Lawrence Cheyo said the player, selected among 20-man Tanzania squad, would be replaced. The squad is readying for the Africa zone five championship slated for Kigali in February next year.

US reports said that Thabeet is in top form and any interruption at this time may disturb the prodigy's fast growing career. "While we are sorry to miss the player, it is also a blessing in disguise as we are proud of his success in developinh his career," said Cheyo. The national team is expected to start training for the zonal championship next month, while TBF is yet to secure an adequate sponsorship.

Tanzania Mainland will join nine other countries in the tourney, namely Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Zanzibar.

Cheyo says men and women teams would compete in the tourney. Selected players for the Tanzania teams are: Men team: Frank Kusiga, Ashraph Harun, Edward Robert, Paschal Nsana, Abdallah �Dulla� Ramadhan, Francis Mlelwa, Frank Agustino, Sudi A|bdallah Razak, Mohamed Ally Dibo, Oswald Maboko and Amon Semberya.
Others are Kafashe Abdallah, Tarimo George, Juma Kissoky, Mgindi Mkumbo, Amiri Muhidini, Batungi Gilbert, Alphonse Kusekwa, Jije Makani and Alex George.

Women team are: Annosiata Anthony, Agnes Simkonda, Jabu Shabani, Grace Peter, Fraja Malaki Evodia Kazinja, Elizabeth Masenyi, Naima Boli and Mary Meshack. Also in the list are; Nipaeli Kessy, Amina Ahmed, Neema Emanuel, Monica Aloyce Zakia Kondo, Dajda Ahmed, Dolita Mbunda, Hadija Kalambo, Lucy Sangu and Lucy Agustino.

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