Mwanza basketball Family: Our court will be ready soon

Mwanza Basketball Family (MBF) has expressed determination to complete construction of a new basketball court early next year.

The body, formed by eight basketball outfits in the region with the aim of realising successful revival of the game, has embarked on the project to tackle the absence of a free venue. 

The clubs are Bugando Planet, Bugando Warriors, Bugando Heat, Dolphin Pasiansi, SAUT Nyegezi, Butimba Spiders, Eagles Kiloleli and St.Francis.


MBF secretary general Shomary Almasi told The Guardian the project has lately been put on hold as the body’s members are struggling to raise funds.

“Should everything go as planned however, we hope to complete the first phase of the project in March, next year,” Almasi said.

He said the project mainly relies on funds from the MBF members and they have yet to start soliciting or financial support from firms and other well-wishers.

“In a bid to ensure we get enough funds for the project, we decided that each of the eight outfits’ players should contribute about 100,000/-. We want to, at least, put a visible structure prior to requesting for financial support.”

Almasi pointed out that MBF’s efforts, though, are weakened by lack of cooperation from Mwanza Regional Basketball Association (MRBA), whose majority of the officials is presently outside the region.
“Currently, there is only one MRBA official in Mwanza and he, in most cases, fails to actively participate in our project because of his job’s commitments,” he said.

“It is difficult for us to request support from firms if we are not accompanied by the association’s official.”

MBF secured a plot for construction of the court at Mirongo Ward in the city centre with support from the area’s councilor, Daudi Mkama.

The body also organises an annual league involving the eight clubs and other newly formed sides. This year’s league, according to Almasi, will be played on weekends, with two matches taking place very Saturday and Sunday.

In one of the last Saturday’s matches, Butimba Spiders cruised to a 42-35 win over the league’s new entrant, Cuhas.