RBA | Basketball giants in hot pursuit for RBA final spot

Four giants today clash to vie for the final spot in the Dar es Salaam Regional Basketball league semis at the Indoor Stadium. For the first time, the semi final stage will miss two regular performers Vijana City Bulls and holders JKT who have bowed out of the race. Army Basketball Club (ABC) are scheduled to play Pazi in the first semi final before Savio take on Oilers in the second match at the same venue.

Winners of today's match will meet in the league's final at the same venue on Sunday. Absence of last year's finalists Vijana and JKT, makes it difficult to predict the winners of this year's league as all four teams have equal chances of claiming the crown. Oilers beat Savio when they met at the preliminary stage, but Savio's playmaker and pointer George Tarimo says it won't be the same this time.

'We were yet to regain our winning form by then, we are now well organised to win the rest of the matches,' said Tarimo. Gerald Baru, Oilers playmaker, promised to maintain their superiority over Savio once again. 'We beat them last time, nothing will stop us from posting another victory this time,' he boasted. Ikunguru brothers, Ladislaus and Andrew will lead Pazi against ABC today. However, Pazi still relay on Mohamed Mshale's remarkable marksmanship to blow off ABC challenge.

However, Pazi have to work extra time to block ABC lethal pointers Haleluya Kavalambi and Gilbert Batungi upfront. Unbeaten Jeshi Stars will take on
DB Lioness
By Brown Msyani

LEAGUE | Savio seal extra-time win over Chang'ombe

Front-runners Savio refreshed their lead in the ongoing Regional Basketball League after posting a 73-63 victory over Chang'ombe United at the National Indoor Stadium late Sunday.

The thrilling encounter saw them teams tying 57-57 at the end of normal time before Savio used well the 5-minute extra time to secure the victory.
Chang'ombe United had looked certain to win the encounter after leading the first two quarters. Banking on Adam Jegame and Mohamed Makani's lethal partnership, they eased into halftime with a 33-21 lead.
Savio's three-pointer Mohamedy Yusuph and George Tarimo fought hard in the third quarter, managing to force a 42-point stalemate at the end of the third quarter.
Chang'ombe could have won 57-55 five seconds to the stoppage time, but for the foul committed by their player Mohamed Mbwana. Mohamed Yusuf converted to force the game into extra time.
Savio converted their points through George Tarimo who penned 24, and Mohamed Yusuf who added 20, while Chang'ombe United's Jegame tallied 17 points.

In the second match at the venue, ABC played impressively to beat Tanzania Prisons 83-71.
ABC, who had opened a 33-30 gap by the end of the first half, went on claim the victory with additional 50 points in the remaining two quarters.
Haleluya Kavalambi, who carded 27 points for the winners, was the match's top scorer followed by his teammate Godfrey Shangwe who scored 23 points.
TZ Prisons Richard Rover registered 12 points while his teammate John Damas added 9.

NBA | H.E. President Kikwete Welcomes Thabeet

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete welcomes to the State House Hasheem Thabeet during a luncheon he hosted to specially congratulate Hasheem for his successful NBA career in the US. In attendence was Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhani who is also the patron of the Tanzania Basketball Federation, Thabeet's mother Rukia who presented President Kikwete with a Memphis Grizlles Jersey, Minister for Information, Culture and Sports George Mkuchika. They took a souvenir photo.

Meanwhile, the Tanzania Basketball Federation - TBF held its elections and elected new office bearers.

1.PRESIDENT- MUSSA MZIYA
CELL +255 754 261 600, +255 715 261 600
EMAIL: mkmziya@yahoo.com, mkmziya@hq-tz.org

2.VICE PRESIDENT- PHARES MAGESA
CELL: +255 713 618 320
EMAIL: magesa@hotmail.com

3. SECRETARY GENERAL-ALEXANDER MSOFFE
CELL: +255 755 008 966
EMAIL: kadeghealex@yahoo.com

4.UNDER-SECRETARY – MICHAEL MALUWE
CELL: +255 717 053 876, +255 786 242 484
EMAIL: maluwe@yahoo.com

5.TREASURER – MARY MMBAGA
CELL: +255 754 307 075, +255 715 307 075
EMAIL: marymmbaga@hotmail.com

Courtesy: Michuzi / http://www.jambonetwork.com

League |Savio fight back to edge out high-spirited Pazi

The Dar es Salaam Basketball Charity Tournament continued yesterday with Savio edging out Pazi 28-26 at the National Indoor Stadium.

Mohamed Yusuf and Lusajo Samuel guided their team to the victory with 13 and 8 points respectively. Yusuf, who was a constant source of trouble to Pazi, emerged the match's top scorer followed by his teammate Samuel. Savio, who fielded all their prominent players, had to come from behind to win the match in a dramatic style.

Gritty young Pazi's players started the match with a clear intent of humbling Savio and finished the first half with a 19-17 lead. Little known Francis Kapama, Dennis Kibua and Elias Kelvin outclassed Savio's veterans in the first half, but ran out of steam in the final minutes of the second half. Savio played heroically in the last six minutes and managed to level the score and add two more points that saved face.

Savio relied on the likes of Mohamed Yusuf and Okare Emesu to teach the budding players the basketball lesson. Eddy Mayeye of Pazi fought hard throughout the match and notched up 10 points, but they were not enough to make their side victorious. Savio's Okare Emesu and Samuel came to dictate the centre of the court, but had work hard to subdue Iku Mseu and Ally Himid of Pazi. Today, bitter rivals JKT and Savio play at the same venue before Chang'ombe Boys and Prisons lock horns in the second match. JKT, who defeated Chui 74-30 on Monday, are buoyed up by their brilliant players; Charles Makene, Frank Simkoko and Himid Choka.

The tournament, which started on Saturday, has attracted all Dar es Salaam premiership teams.
source : http://www.thecitizen.co.tz

Charity | TBF Invites President to Grace Basketball Charity Day

H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete is expected to grace the Basketball Charity Day, which will get underway on October 24 at the National Indoor Stadium.

Tanzania Basketball Federation's (TBF) vice president Mussa Mziya said preparations for the eagerly awaited event were on course. 'We decided to invite the president because he is passionate with sports and besides he can inspire young players to love basketball,' he said. He said the tournament is meant to raise funds that would help to promote basketball from the grassroots.

'We are determined more than ever to search for super talents from the lowest level, thus look forward to raising adequate money for the project,' he said. The official named other dignitaries invited as Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhan and the National Assembly Speaker Samuel Sitta.He disclosed that president Kikwete was their basketball patron before being elected president. 'He inspired many players at ABC and we must admit that our Kili RBA's successes were down to him,' he said.

He stressed besides the forenamed dignitaries, there would be several ministers, ambassadors and top officials from corporate firms. According to him, all basketball stakeholders, fans and players from Dar es Salaam's premier league clubs would have a chance to participate in the event. 'We're also planning to organise matches involving veteran players, government officials and diplomats. We want everyone to play on that day,' he said. Basketball is gaining popularity in the country after the towering shot-blocker Hasheem Thabeet made the grades.The Kili RBA that is staged seasonally in Dar es Salaam has also played a pivotal role in the development of the sport.

Courtesy of www.allafrica.com

Zone 5 | Kenyan sides Dominate 2009 Zone Five Games

JKT Basketball Team failed to reach the semis of the Zone five Games, in what is seen as their worst outing in recent years. Meanwhile, Kenyan sides, Kenya Ports Authority-KPA (women) and Cooperative Bank,(men) won the 2009 FIBA Africa Zone-5 Championships in Kampala, Uganda. KPA were the first to register their win after hitting hosts Kampala City Council-KCC 67-45, paving the way for another Kenyan triumph as Cooperative Bank upset Uganda’s Warriors 53-47 in a tough duel. In the preliminary games, Stephen Omony, the star player Thursday night ‘accounted’ for the Shs72m spent on his signature by helping Falcons edge Burundi side Newstars 86-85 in a Sprite Zone 5 Africa Championship encounter at YMCA Wandegeya. The former PSL Hawks star played like a possessed man, on a night Falcons needed victory to survive elimination from the Africa Club Championships qualifying tournament. At the start, it was all Newstars. The Burundian's overran Falcons 26-19 in the first quarter and went into recess carrying a 50-38 advantage. That looked like a hell of a mountain for Falcons to climb. >> Read More

NBA | Thabeet : Journey to the NBA

Hasheem Thabeet, the 7’3 junior from University of Connecticut made his made history by becoming the first Tanzanian to play in the NBA League, after he was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.
>> read more

College | Tanzanian Star in NCAA winning Team

Hasheem Thabeet is getting better and better at the University of Connecticut in USA, where he plays for the Huskies… 2009 National Champions. The 7-foot-3 center, from Dar es Salaam Tanzania, but an alumnus of Laiser Hill Academy in Kenya, and Cypress Christian School in Houston, Texas where he averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game, has appeared in 64 career games, starting 63, averaging 8.4 points, 7.2 rebounds per game and 4.1 blocks (265 total) per game for The Huskies.

As a Sophomore in 2007-08, Thabeet Led the team in blocks 28 times, tallying at least three on 26 occasions, while also earning seven double-doubles, and was Named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, Earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors and Named to the NABC All-District 1 Second Team.

As a Freshman in 2006-07, he was Named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team, was a starting center for all 31 games with 6.2 points and 6.4 rebounds, along with 118 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game and led team in blocks on 23 occasions, putting up two or more in 25 contests.

Thabeet in action view... http://www.uconnhuskies.com/view.gal?id=46120

Info: Courtesy University of Connecticut :