Tanzanian basketball club Dar City made a strong statement in the quarter-finals of the Basketball Africa League after securing an impressive 88-82 victory over Angola’s Petro de Luanda in a tightly contested match played in Rwanda yesterday.
The victory gives Dar City an important advantage as the Tanzanian side continues its historic campaign in Africa’s premier basketball competition.
Speaking to The Respondent Online after the game, Dar City Assistant Coach Mohamed Mbwana praised his players for showing resilience and discipline against one of the continent’s most experienced teams.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game because Petro de Luanda is a strong side with quality players and experience in this competition. But our players showed character, used their chances well and fought until the end,” said Mbwana.
Despite the victory, the coach admitted there were areas that still need improvement ahead of tomorrow’s return fixture against the Angolan giants.
He said the technical bench is now focusing on strengthening the team’s defence from the opening quarter to the final whistle while also reducing unnecessary turnovers that nearly cost them control of the match.
Mbwana added that improving free-throw accuracy has also become a key priority as the team seeks to maintain its momentum in the competition.
“We are not under pressure, but we want to see the corrections we made being applied effectively on the court. The players are motivated and we strongly believe this team can continue producing good results,” he said.
The assistant coach also commended the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for its continued support, saying the encouragement from national leaders has inspired the squad to fight harder for the country.
He noted that a recent pledge made by the Regional Commissioner had further boosted morale inside the Dar City camp as the team aims to make Tanzania proud on the continental stage.
“We know we carry the hopes of many Tanzanians. The players understand that responsibility and are determined to represent the nation with pride,” Mbwana added.
