Basketball in Africa

THE new leadership of the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) has set plans to promote the sport from the grassroots level.

TBF's Assistant Secretary General Michael Maluwe said today that, to start with, the programme will dwell on coaching seminars for teachers in secondary schools.
"In schools, the students would be able to play basketball more competitively", he said.
He said that the new leaders who were voted into office about a week ago face a big challenge of raising funds.
"The federation is cash strapped and we need funds for all our programmes to succeed", he said.

He said that the charity match earlier planned to be held in October would be given a top priority next year.
"We were forced to postpone the match for lack of enough funds. Hopefully we will be able to get sponsors next year", Maluwe said.

The federation had planned to raise over 700m/- from the high profile match which was to be attended by President Jakaya Kikwete, ministers, retired sportsmen and women as well as Members of Parliament.
He said that funds would be used to build basketball courts in schools across the country.
He urged the government to find them a good coach who will conduct seminars in schools.