Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA’S basketball champions, Dar City, will begin their Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference campaign today with a challenging fixture against Johannesburg Giants in Pretoria, South Africa.
Pretoria is hosting this year’s Kalahari Conference, bringing together six clubs from across the continent: Al Ahly (Libya), APR (Rwanda), Dar City (Tanzania), Johannesburg Giants (South Africa), Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya), and Petro de Luanda (Angola).
Dar City heads into the tournament determined to make a strong statement on the continental stage, having reinforced their squad with a blend of local talent and internationally experienced players. Among the key additions is Tanzanian guard Atiki Ally, who currently plays professional basketball in a New Mexico club, USA.
Having spent several years in the U.S. on a basketball scholarship, Ally brings valuable international exposure expected to boost the team’s performance.
The Tanzanian side has also secured several high-profile international signings, including French guard David Michineau from AS Monaco, South Sudan’s Junior Madut, who features in the Kosovo Basketball League, and Nisre Zouzoua, who joined the club last year from Morocco’s FUS Rabat.
Further strengthening the squad are Michael Foster and Deng Junior, both of whom boast experience in European basketball, raising hopes that Dar City can compete strongly in the prestigious continental competition. They face a stern opening test against Johannesburg Giants, fellow tournament debutants who have shown notable progress over the past year.
The Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Christian Makonda, has urged the team to deliver a strong performance. Speaking during the official flag handover ceremony over the weekend, Makonda wished the team success and called for greater public support for basketball.
Makonda also emphasised the importance of discipline, unity and patriotism, reminding the players that they carry the hopes of the nation. Dar City ambassador and Kigoma Urban Member of Parliament, Revocatus Chipando, popularly known as ‘Baba Levo’, expressed confidence in the team’s preparedness.
“We are well prepared, the players’ morale is high, and everyone understands the importance of representing Tanzania with pride. We are ready to fight,” he said.
Dar City entered the BAL with high expectations of making an impact and writing a new chapter for Tanzanian basketball on the African stage under the new Tanzania Basketball Federation president and former NBA player Hashim Thabeet.
