TANZANIA : TBF to team up with media

The Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) banks on media to unearth talents budding players before developing them into professionals.

TBF chairman of youth commission, Selemani Semunyu said media has wide tentacles to publicise and impress talented players to join the fray in basketball career.

Semunyu is in the opinion that media has power good enough to highlight the performance of budding players, thereby attracting others to emulate the idols into basketball promotion.

Coverage of both local and international basketball matches which is rare at the moment would entice and uproot local talents as they would be developing insight of the game.

“Plans are in the pipeline with local television channels to weigh the possibility of beaming NBA matches played on Saturdays and Sundays”, said Semunyu.

There will be especial analyst to assist in translating and giving comments as matches are underway, so says the TBF official.

He acknowledges the fact that TBF should emphasize on grassroots promotion for basketball to gain tempo in the country.

“Efforts are also to be directed to schools where most of youths are found”, he said.

He said that the newly elected leaders face a big challenge of raising funds to achieve their intended targets. "The federation is cash strapped and we need funds for most of our programmes to effectively make the ends meet", he said.

Despite his plea, the newly elected TBF leadership team has not unveiled their annual calendar of activities as the season unfolds.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN