Basketball in Africa

JESHI Stars outplayed their rivals JKT Stars 67-42, to clinch the National Women’s Basketball Championship title at the National Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday evening.

Faraja Malaki scored 20 points at the final to steer her team glory of the annual women tournament, organised by the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) and sponsored by CRDB.

The RBA League champions JKT Stars could not confirm their supremacy and were struggling to match their opponent’s tactics. Jeshi Stars started the game on a good rhythm, taking a 22-5 lead in the first quarter, before going to breathe 38-17 ahead.

With quality, offensive and good display, Jeshi Stars added 18-13 in the third quarter but slightly lost steam in the final quarter, in which they added only 11 points against 12 of their rivals, to register a victory.

Other top contributors for Jeshi Stars included Joyce Midodi with 15 points, as Veronica Patrick and tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Orin Titus, scored 12 and 10 points respectively.

Doritha Mbunda put up 14 points for JKT in the loss, while Lulu Joseph and Mwajuma Shabaan hit 10 and 8 points respectively.

Magreti Nicolaus of Vijana Queens was voted the tournament’s best defender and best scorer was Dawa Haji of JKU and they were awarded 100,000/- each, while MVP Titus was awarded 150,000/-.

In the third place playoff match, JKU of Zanzibar registered a massive 106-54 win over Vijana Queens. The tournament that started last week brought together seven teams with JKU being the only team from Zanzibar.

Chief guest Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Sophia Simba, commended JKU and said their participation help in strengthening the Union.

The minister said that Tanzania was capable of building a strong women team, but TBF will need support from sponsors and wellwishers to fulfil that mission.

“It is time for sponsors to look at other sports like basketball and assist initiative that TBF has been putting in place to develop women.”

She also presented trophy, medals and cash prizes to the winners. TBF Women’s Commission Chairperson, Angela Bondo, said that the event aimed at promoting ladies basketball in the country and thanked all teams and sponsors for making it possible.