Tanzania's Ambassador to France, Saidi Othman Yakubu, has praised a group of young Tanzanian basketball players for elevating the country's profile on the international stage after finishing third at the Paris World Games.
The players, representing Dream Chaser Basketball Academy and World Squad Basketball from Dar es Salaam, secured third place in the global tournament, which attracted teams from 14 countries.
The Tanzanian side also produced the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP), underlining the country's growing potential in youth basketball.
During a meeting with the team at the Tanzanian Embassy in Paris, Ambassador Yakubu said the achievement reflected the talent, discipline and determination of Tanzanian youth.
He noted that the team's victories over several international opponents, including teams from the United States, demonstrated that young Tanzanian athletes can compete successfully on the world stage when given the right opportunities.
"The success you have achieved is a source of pride for Tanzania. You have represented the nation with honour and shown that our young people have the ability to excel in international competitions," he said.
The ambassador encouraged the players to maintain discipline, continue working hard and remain worthy ambassadors of Tanzania as they pursue higher levels of competition.
Head of the delegation, Jovin Charles, commended the Tanzanian government for its continued support for sports development, saying such backing has enabled young athletes to gain valuable international exposure.
He also thanked members of the Tanzanian community in France for standing behind the team throughout the tournament, describing their encouragement as a key source of motivation.
Charles expressed hope that stronger collaboration between the government, sports institutions and the Tanzanian diaspora would open more opportunities for talented young athletes to showcase their abilities in international competitions.
The team's performance adds to Tanzania's growing presence in international youth sports and highlights the importance of sustained investment in grassroots talent development to produce future sporting ambassadors.
