Basketball in Africa

TANZANIA People's Defence Forces (TPDF) basketball team has withdrawn from the Zone 5 Club Championship to be held in Mombasa from August 25-31, this year.
Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) Secretary General, Saleh Zonga, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the team, popularly known as Army Basketball Club (ABC), will not participate in the zonal competition because of other commitments. "Ahead of us, we have the East Africa Military Games in August and the Zone 5 Championship the same month.
So it will be difficult for ABC to take part in both competitions as they have few players," he said. ABC finished runners-up to JKT in the last National League.
Following ABC's withdrawal, Tanzania Mainland will be represented by JKT and Don Bosco in the men's and women's categories respectively.
Zonga further said both teams are currently undergoing intensive training and are looking forward to giving the nation a worthy representation at the Zone 5 Championship.
"Don Bosco players are training at their Upanga-based home ground while JKT are camping at Mgulani in Temeke municipality.
They are both tactically good and I hope they will perform well," he said. Countries expected to participate in the tournament include Tanzania Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan and host Kenya.
The championship will be staged in Mombasa and the Coast Basketball Association (CBA) has already formed an organizing committee.
"We've been informed by FIBA that the tournament will be held in Mombasa and we're very happy for being honoured," CBA Chairman Ali Hilmy said.
"We're now busy with preparations and we have already formed a committee to organise the event," he added. Hilmy said participating teams must be accompanied by an international referee and an official nominated by FIBA.