25 June 2009
TANZANIA : ABC gear up for Zone five tournament
By Oliver Albert
ABC have started early preparations in a bid to perform better in the forthcoming East African Zone Five Basketball Championship.
The east African championship is set to tee off on July 27 and reach its climax on August 5 in Kampala, Uganda.
ABC, who lost their National Basketball League (NBL) title to JKT in Mwanza, are determined to restore their status by winning regional event.
Jeshi Stars would make their first appearance in the tournament as they represent the country in women category.
ABC's head coach Leonard Kwale said the team was intensively training at Mgulani Camp courts.
"We want to show the region what we are capable of that's why we decided to start preparations very early," he said.
Kwale said his players had learnt from their previous defeat to JKT and are ready to overturn poor season with better performance in the Zone Five tourney.
"We have the best players who can outdo our opponents easily, so I am confident we'll make it to the last four," the coach said.
He said they would consider any result below the last four as complete failure.
The coach said none of the teams would pose a threat to his side apart from Kenyan teams that boast of many talented players.
"I saw most of their players during the Intercity Basketball tournament and my players looked superior in all sections. Only Kenyans can trouble us," he said.
The team will rely on its prolific players Gilbert Batungi, Ephraim Mwaipungu, Haleluya Kavalambi and John Pastory.
This championship has attracted the teams from Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea and the host.
Three teams will represent Tanzania in the zonal championship. Others are JKT Stars(women) and JKT(men).
ABC have started early preparations in a bid to perform better in the forthcoming East African Zone Five Basketball Championship.
The east African championship is set to tee off on July 27 and reach its climax on August 5 in Kampala, Uganda.
ABC, who lost their National Basketball League (NBL) title to JKT in Mwanza, are determined to restore their status by winning regional event.
Jeshi Stars would make their first appearance in the tournament as they represent the country in women category.
ABC's head coach Leonard Kwale said the team was intensively training at Mgulani Camp courts.
"We want to show the region what we are capable of that's why we decided to start preparations very early," he said.
Kwale said his players had learnt from their previous defeat to JKT and are ready to overturn poor season with better performance in the Zone Five tourney.
"We have the best players who can outdo our opponents easily, so I am confident we'll make it to the last four," the coach said.
He said they would consider any result below the last four as complete failure.
The coach said none of the teams would pose a threat to his side apart from Kenyan teams that boast of many talented players.
"I saw most of their players during the Intercity Basketball tournament and my players looked superior in all sections. Only Kenyans can trouble us," he said.
The team will rely on its prolific players Gilbert Batungi, Ephraim Mwaipungu, Haleluya Kavalambi and John Pastory.
This championship has attracted the teams from Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea and the host.
Three teams will represent Tanzania in the zonal championship. Others are JKT Stars(women) and JKT(men).
# posted by afrbk : 19:46
