The government has pledged to invest in modern basketball facilities to give young players safe and supportive environments, from grassroots levels to professional leagues.
Senior Sports Officer at the National Sports Council (BMT), Charles Maguzu, made the announcement while receiving Dar City back from South Africa, where the team reached the quarterfinals of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The next stage is scheduled for May in Kigali, Rwanda.
Maguzu said the government will continue to support the team and emphasized the importance of representing Tanzania on the international stage.
“This milestone inspires us. The government will continue to develop sports nationwide, ensuring every Tanzanian has a chance to participate, uphold the country’s pride, and strengthen partnerships in building modern sports facilities,” he said.
He praised Dar City’s leadership and players for their dedication, saying their achievement sets a benchmark for other clubs competing internationally.
Vice President of the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF), Mohamed Kisau, said the team’s success also offered opportunities to connect with key stakeholders, helping grow the sport locally.
“TBF will work with Dar City to ensure they are fully prepared—physically and mentally—for the knockout stage, applying lessons from top-level competition,” Kisau said.
Dar City player Hasheem Thabeet described the achievement as a major boost for basketball in Tanzania, despite injuries that affected their performance.
“The teams we faced were experienced, some participating in this league for several seasons. It was our first time, yet we reached the quarterfinals. Every challenge was a lesson,” he said.
