By Oliver Albert
The Citizen Correspondent http://www.thecitizen.co.tz
Dar es Salaam. An arduous task awaits newly promoted Airwing when they face basketball giants ABC in Regional Basketball League (RBA) match at the National Indoor Stadium in the city today.
On paper, ABC, the 2008 national champions, will start as favourites. Juma Kissoky, the team’s new signing, is among players Airwing must watch closely if they are to avoid a defeat.
The anxiously awaited match is among four encounters that are on the menu today. Dar es Salaam Police will lock horns with CMTU in another match at the same venue this afternoon.
The day will also see Tanzania Prisons battling it out against Lady Lioness, before Vijana Queens face Cargo Ladies in the women’s series.
After today’s match, ABC will return to the same venue tomorrow for a crucial match against their arch-rivals JKT.
Matches involving the two teams, which command a huge following in Dar es Salaam, usually attract tens of basketball fans, and tomorrow’s clash is expected to follow that tradition.
“It’ll be a do or die encounter. But our fans should expect positive results, nothing will stop us from overcoming JKT,” Kissoky boasted yesterday.
But ABC should not expect a win on a silver platter as JKT were in high spirits yesterday, looking forward to turning tables on their opponents today.
“We’ve beaten them several times, we expect to do the same in Sunday’s match,” JKT’s Ally Choka, one of the team’s key players, said yesterday.
Chang’ombe United will play Chui in another Sunday match before PT Stars takes on UDSM Outsiders at the same venue.