Basketball in Africa

Brown Msyani

The Citizen Correspondent

Dar es Salaam. For basketball fans, the National Indoor Stadium is the place to be as the 2012 RBA League starts with enticing games.Defending champions JKT open their title defence campaign against ABC in a repeat of last year’s tense final.
Temeke MP Abas Mtemvu will grace the opening ceremony before the eagerly awaited tip-off.JKT, who trounced ABC 59-37 in a tension packed final, head to the courts with a psychological advantage.The reigning champions would be expecting Himidi Choka, Frank Kusiga and Francis Mlewa to do the damage once again.
However, ABC remain to be the team to beat considering the quality of their players.ABC bank on the likes of Filbert Mwaipungu, Adamu Jegame and Gilbert Batungi to avenge the defeat.
ABC head coach Leonard Kwale believes that his side can tame JKT, insisting that their intense preparations will reflect in this encounter.“We went back to the drawing board after an embarrassing loss last year, we are well prepared for the challenge and hopefully we’ll beat them,” he said. However, JKT’s coach Turbet Matiku said his charges will do the basics of the game to win.
“We have worked hard to get where we are right now and I believe the lads will execute when they face ABC,” he said.The day will also see Savio face Police while in the women’s league, Lady Lioness will be hunting victory when they play Vijana Queens.
The men’s teams taking part in this year’s league are; Savio, ABC, Hoop Life, Vijana, JKT, Magone, Oilers, Chui and Pazi.