Basketball in Africa

By Suleiman Jongo

Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) general secretary Lawrence Cheyo will not seek re-election during the federation's general elections set for October this year.

Cheyo said that he had decided not to run to give chances to other interested basketballers to take the chance.
"The decision has been influenced by my personal wishes, I think it's time to stay aside", said Cheyo.

TBF, which was transformed four years ago after it�s first polls held in Tanga in 2005, has been facing financial crisis, which forced the national teams from pulling out in various international events.
The events include the Zone Five Championship, which is due to take place at the end of this month in Kigali, Rwanda.

Cheyo said that the reason for him to step aside was not due to failure by TBF to send teams to Kigali and other previous events. TBF's 2005 general election saw Richard Kasesela elected as the federation�s president.
The federation was initially known as the Tanzania Amateur Basketball Association (BATA) and was patroned by the sports loving President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete before he become the head of state.
The elections will go along with the Taifa Cup to be held in October in Dar es Salaam with several regional teams taking part.
Meanwhile preparations for the National Basketball League (NBL) to be held from April 12 to 18 in Mwanza are in full swing, according to Cheyo.
Cheyo said Dar es Salaam will be represented by four top teams in the ongoing RBA Kili League. For women, according to him the event will be open to all the teams wishing to compete.
Some of the teams expected are ABC, JKT, Savio, oilers, magereza, Polisi Dar, Vijana, Dodoma Spurs, Mbeya Flames, Kilimanjaro Boys, Mwanza Planet, Bees and Young Warriors.