Tanzania to host FIBA Africa basketball competition

Tanzania basketball players compete in the past championship (PHOTO | FILE)

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has been given a chance to host men’s basketball continental competition also known as FIBA AfroCan scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam.

This is according to Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) secretary general Mwenze Kabinda during an interview with The Citizen.

Kabinda said the competition has been scheduled to take place from May 17 to 24, featuring nine countries including Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan and the hosts Tanzania.

He said the event is very important for Tanzania in order to qualify for the continental championships. According to Kabinda, they have already appointed Tanzania National Basketball team coaches, whose names, he said, will be known after completing various procedures.

He said the coaches will prepare a training programme for the players and he called upon the game stakeholders to give them the financial support of Sh52 million for preparations and hosting the competition.

“This competition is for men’s senior team only. We have been given a chance to host it because of our conducive environment and passion for the game in the country. TBF is now struggling to raise Sh62 million to successful host the competition. It is our time to qualify for the African event,” said Kabinda.

He explained that Tanzania has many talented basketball players, who need intensive training before featuring in the competition.

“We are determined to do our best in the competition and secure the chance. We call upon stakeholders to give us support as TBF cannot facilitate the competition alone,” he said.

The AfroCan (alternatively known as the FIBA AfroCan) is a men’s basketball continental competition in Africa, which is played biennially under the auspices of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Unlike the AfroBasket, AfroCan is only opened to all players who play for basketball clubs based in Africa. In 2017, a new calendar by FIBA changed the AfroBasket from a biennial to quadrennial tournament. As a consequence, the AfroCan was created to fill up the void.

The first ever AfroCan was held in 2019 in Mali, with the DR Congo winning the inaugural title after beating Kenya in the final.