TBF to use Taifa Cup to scout national team players
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) has announced that this year’s CRDB Taifa Cup will serve as a platform to scout and select national team players ahead of upcoming international competitions, including the AfroBasket qualifiers.
Speaking to The Citizen, TBF Secretary General Mwenze Kabinda confirmed that the technical committee has been tasked with identifying top talent during the tournament.
He noted that the nationwide nature of the event, which brings together a wide pool of players from across the country, provides an excellent opportunity to assemble a strong national squad.
“We have instructed our technical team to use the CRDB Taifa Cup to scout players for the national team.
The tournament features a diverse pool of players from many regions, giving selectors a broad base to choose from,” said Kabinda.
The Taifa Cup basketball tournament is scheduled to run from June 24 to July 4 at the Chinangali courts in Dodoma.
It has received a significant financial boost from CRDB Bank, which has committed Sh200 million as the main sponsor.
A total of 36 teams will participate — 20 in the men’s category and 16 in the women’s. In the men’s draw, Group A includes Kigoma, Arusha, Singida, Iringa, and Tanga.
Group B consists of Dodoma, Simiyu, Mwanza, Tabora, and Manyara. Group C features Mbeya, Shinyanga, Rukwa, Kilimanjaro, and Unguja, while Group D brings together Dar es Salaam, Coast Region, Mara, Lindi, and Morogoro.
For the women’s division, Group A includes Mara, Tabora, Arusha, and Mtwara; Group B has Unguja, Morogoro, Manyara, and Mwanza; Group C consists of Dodoma, Kilimanjaro, Iringa, and Kigoma; and Group D includes Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Mbeya, and Coast Region.
In addition to team honors, individual awards will be presented, including best player, top scorer, best defender, and best young player, for both men and women.
