Hasheem Thabeet’s Tanzanian role

SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Hasheem Thabeet may not be making an impact that some observers predicted when he was selected second overall-pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009 NBA draft, but back in his native Tanzania he remains an inspirational figure.

Regardless of a professional success -or not- the 7ft3in (2.21) center, the tallest active NBA player, cannot help delivering hope to his country young basketball players.

Sporting-wise in the past two seasons, he has had some relatively unstable performances, oscillating between the NBA and the D-League.

He played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets before signing for the Portland Trail Blazers early this year. In between he represented D-League teams of Dakota Wizards and Rio Grande Valley.

Thabeet had three successful college basketball seasons with the Connecticut Huskies, averaging 10.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.2 blocks in 100 games.

Back in Tanzania though, youths don’t seem to worry too much about Thabeet’s current performances. All they dream is following his footsteps and playing basketball at the highest level.

Criticized by some and applauded by others, what Thabeet really needed to restore his outstanding college playing form is perhaps some Tanzanian kindness and work hard during the off-season break, as he recently admitted.

And this is exactly what he is doing.

Last weekend he hosted a two-day clinic at Don Bosco basketball courts in Tanzania capital Dar es Salaam, gathering over 200 U-17 players from several parts of the country.

The initiative, the second, since the 25-year-old became professional was regarded as crucial, mainly because of his social intervention in a country where basketball is number two sport after football.

He made public speeches, urged both schools and parents to come together and support their children and taught basketball fundamentals.
In a sentence, Hasheem Thabeet’s role is making a big difference for Tanzanian hopeful basketball players.

Surely, Thabeet’s basketball commitment is an example of what most African countries need in order to develop the game.

His basketball clinic was sponsored by Sprit, a subsidiary of Coca Cola, and the USA Embassy in Dar es Salaam provided basketballs.

No doubts that basketball federations should play a more active role in developing programs around Africa. However once most depend of government funds and its bureaucratic system, players with Thabeet’s status often make a profound difference as their voices echo quite loud. 

Phares Magesa - Tanzania Basketball Federation vice-president - told me that Hasheem Thabeet is, thanks to this clinic, playing crucial and very important role.

“He inspires young kids and when they are trained with him they also have hope of reaching that level and he also encourages them to work hard in schools.

“So in general clinics are very good and many kids have benefited and some get scholarships,” Magesa pointed out. 

For instance, early this year Tanzanian 19-year-old Alpha Kisusi headed to Canadian college Memorial University Sea-Hawks to pursue his studies and play basketball.

Tanzania basketball history

Located on the east coast of Africa, Tanzania enjoys a modest basketball status in Africa.

The men’ national team has appeared at a single Afrobasket tournament (1974), while the women team last played at the continent most prestigious basketball event in 1997 held in neighbouring Kenya.

Tanzania is member of FIBA Africa zone V.

When will Thabeet wear the national team jersey?

It is an issue that may hardly happen in the coming years, as his NBA commitments may overlap that of FIBA Africa zone V qualification tournament.

Between representing his beloved country and establishing himself as a solid NBA player is a dilemma Thabeet faces.

Basketball clinic II

For basketball fans and enthusiast in Tanzania, the Thabeet clinic may have finished on Saturday, June 2, but later this week, there is another basketball clinic.

Greg Brittenham, former New York Knicks assistant coach will be holding a two-day basketball clinic for kids and elite players in Arusha, the second largest city in the country over the weekend.

Brittenham - who dedicates his time to helping kids in the native villages of Alaska with aspects of health, fitness, academics, drug and alcohol prevention – has realized that the needs of the youth of Africa are dramatically different than those of the kids of Alaska, and embraced the basketball clinic proposal.

“If you love basketball then "let’s get together" have some fun and develop skills and responsibility” he told me when I asked him about his planning to hold a basketball clinic in Arusha.

Whatever happens to Thabeet in the upcoming NBA season, one thing is certain he has already played a tremendous contribution to his fellow Tanzanians.

Julio Chitunda

FIBA

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