The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Brown Msyani
1 July 2009
Newly signed Memphis Glizzlies' player Hasheem Thabeet would land in the county next month in a bid to thank Tanzanians for showing him support.
Tanzania Basketball Federation's (TBF) president Richard Kasesera confirmed it from the US yesterday.
Last week, Glizzles made him the No. 2 pick in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.
Kasesera said Tanzanian ambassador to the US Augustino Mahinga led over 1000 Tanzanians in a special function organised to congratulate Thabeet.
"We don't know exact date of his arrival, but he assured us of coming next month," he said.
The ambassador presented the national flag to Thabeet as a way of appreciating his efforts to reach the highest level in basketball.
The TBF president said successes of the 7.3 feet shot-blocker would inspire other NBA teams to scout for promising talents in the country.
"He has opened the door for other players to go and trade their skills in the US since some NBA clubs will be more interested to scout players in the country," he said.
"We have several of them, but they fail to excel because of limited exposure," he added.
The president pointed out that the NBA was impressed by fast progress of basketball in country and promised to offer courses that would help take the sport to higher level.
Besides, the TBF would have an opportunity to send some players to the US for intensive courses.
The course is known as Basketball Without Boarders and would start later, according to Kasesera.
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