Basketball in Africa

TANZANIA as host of Zone Five basketball clubs championship will field in six teams in the event set for National Indoor Stadium and Don Dosco courts in Dar es Salaam from October 9 to 16, this year.


Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) Secretary General, Alexander Msoffe said yesterday that preparations for the event are on a top gear.
He said teams from nine competing countries are expected to arrive starting October 7. Msoffe named the local clubs lined for the championship as ABC, Savio and Vijana in men's category, while the ladies category will feature Jeshi Stars, Lady Lioness and Cargo.
   "We are happy that preparations are going on well taking into account that the event is a big test and an opportunity for the country to prove that we are worth to be accorded a chance to host such an event," said Msoffe.
He said they are making all means possible to ensure that they stage one of the successful Zone Five basketball events, which will grant them another chance to host more such continental meet.
Moreover, he said, the local clubs must be well prepared to ensure that they win top honours in the championship by the virtue of being hosts.
   "I believe they will use the home ground advantage to the fullest and learn from other participating teams," he said.
Countries that will compete and the number of teams they will send in bracket are Kenya (5), Uganda (3), Rwanda (3), Burundi (2), Ethiopia (2), Eritrea (1) and Southern Sudan (2) In last year's Zone Five event held in Bujumbura, Burundi, local teams that took part in the event were Savio and Jeshi Stars in the women category, while for the men it was only Savio after JKT pulled out on the eleventh hour.
Kenya's Co-op Bank and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) won in the men's and ladies' categories respectively.