Basketball in Africa

By Brown Msyani

Spain-backed under 17 players basketball camp climaxed yesterday at the International School of Tanganyika with big success.

Vijana and the national basketball team coach Bahati Mgunda, said over 25 players took part in the course organised by Tanzania Basketball Federation under the sponsorship of U-5 Sports from Spain.

The camp opened on October 14, the young players learned fundamental skills of basketball starting with physical and technical to ball handling, dribbling, shooting, lay up, jump shot, set shot, passing and receiving, pivoting and shot fake.

Mgunda named other skills obtained at the camp as sliding and shuffling, rebounding, box out, communication skills, developing philosophy for young players, zone, man to man, shell drill traps and later gave the players lessons on rights of young athletes, HIV and doping.

Spain�s Anicet Lavodrama and Evarist Mapunda joined Mgunda to facilitate the training.

''Lavodrama is the former NBA player who also toured Tanzania last year for similar training. We thank him and his firm for their effective support,'' said Mgunda.

Mgunda named the youth who attended the camp as Andrew Sikalengo (Dar es Salaam), Edward Ndung'u(Dodoma), Joseph Lyimo, Albert Chale, Winjonnes Mbwambo, Alphaeus Kisusi, Baraka Elias and Kisoro Hashimu, all from Dar es salaam

The list of Dar es salaam players also includes David Bakalemwa, Abdulrazak Wajid, Sunday Elias, Alpha Mwakipesile, Nickson Charles, Charles Victor, Abdallah Hussein, Dominic Alcard and Gabriel Pius while Loderick Kiwia came from Dodoma.