By Brown Msyani
The hot chase for supremacy between Charles Makene of JKT and Adam Jegame of Chang'ombe Boys will be the main attraction of the Regional Basketball League opener at the National Indoor Stadium today.
It is the first match of this year's spectacular RBA League and it will revive the old rivalry between the two sides.
Both Makene and Jegame have been playing vital roles for their team's victories in the past matches of the Kili RBA League.
Chang'ombe Boys who were promoted early this year will use the match to regain their basketball stronghold, which they lost during a two-year suspension.
Basketball pundits are finding it difficult to predict the winner since both teams have quality players renowned for their tactical play.
"It is very unpredictable, let us wait and watch who will win this year," said Amani Temba, Chang'ombe Boys playmaker.
Other players expected to shine in the opener for JKT include dunk master Juma Kissocky, Frank Simkoko, Frank Kusiga and Neville Sitta.
The Dar es Salaam basketball body's Executive Director Mbaga Mwamboma said 14 teams would compete in this year's league for men and women based in Dar es Salaam.
The women teams include JKT Stars, Jeshi Stars, CMTU, Cargo Ladies, Don Bosco Lady lioness and Police.
The men's discipline has drawn JKT, Pazi, Savio, Oilers, ABC, Cargo, Tanzania Prisons, Chui and JKT Mgulani.
For the first time after 15 years, this year's league is not sponsored following the withdrawal of Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) who backed the league since 1990.
Mwamboma said there won't be any cash prizes as it used to be when the tournament had TBL backing.
"We hope to improve the prizes when we get an effective sponsorship," said Mwamboma.