When the news surfaced that, Hasheem Thabeet, is headed to the Development League (D-League), the reaction among Tanzanians especially the users of social networks such as Facebook and blogs were overwhelming. I guess the big question in lots of folk’s minds was; what is a D-League? Does it suggest that he is no longer going to be playing in the usual NBA league? Well, it depends on a lot of things. You can read more about the D-League and its implications or benefits to Hasheem career by clicking here and also here.
The social networks such as Facebook and blogs were immediately stuffed with comments and opinions. Some were wishing him a “quick comeback “to the NBA, while some couldn’t hesitate to throw jabs on him in the sentiment of “we told you”.
I guess the news was “worth the talk”, because not only Hasheem is the first Tanzanian ever to play in the NBA, but also the highest draft pick ever to go to the D-League. Thabeet, who has played sparingly in his rookie season, averaging 2.5 points in 10.3 minutes over 50 games, has been optioned to the Dakota Wizards. He made his debut yesterday when Dakota Wizards played Erie Bayhawks. Dakota Wizards won 108-103.
Before his debut in the D-League, I had caught up with Hasheem with only one question in my mind; about his reaction following the demotion to the D-League. This is how it went;
BC: Hasheem, what is your reaction to this whole thing of moving to the D-League?
HASHEEM THABEET: My reaction about D-League…Uhmmm… well I’m excited to participate in the D-League. I’m looking forward to playing and maximizing this opportunity to be on court and use the skills that I have developed thus far rather than to be on the bench.
Right now the key for me is consistency court time as I am still learning the Pro Game. I know Coach Hollins has my best interest at heart so I’m happy with his decision which I believe is to make sure that I stay active.
Now I know this is the time for the haters and all the doubters to talk and say whatever they have because they have been waiting to bring me down for a minute. So it’s my downtime and I promise I’m not backing back. It’s a new saga that has started. Plus I’m still be getting the same cheque… it’s not like they are not gonna pay me the usual. So I’m still good and soon I’ll be back!!! And oh by the way, I’m only going there for 6 games. So I will be back sooner than they are thinking.
**BC would like to wish Hasheem all the best in the D-League and eventually his return to the NBA.
Mcheza golf maarufu,Tiger Woods,33 amepata ajali na kuumia karibu na nyumbani kwake huko Windermere,Florida. Tiger alikuwa akiendesha gari lake aina ya 2009 Cadillac SUV ambapo aligonga fire hydrant kabla ya kuuvaa mti uliokuwa pembeni.Ilikuwa mida ya saa nane na dakika ishirini na tano alfajiri. Ilibidi mke wake atumie golf club kupasua kioo cha nyuma cha gari la Tiger ili kumtoa. Mke wake alisikia mlio wa ajali kwani na kukimbilia nje kwani ajali ilitokea karibu kabisa na nyumbani kwa star huyo wa mchezo wa golf duniani.
Hata hivyo tofauti na habari zilizokuwa zimeenea hapo mwanzo,Tiger hakuumia sana katika ajali hiyo mbali ya kupata michubuko kadhaa usoni. Ametibiwa na kuruhusiwa kurudi nyumbani kwake. Tovuti yake imeielezea ajali ya Tiger kuwa “ndogo”.
Historia ya Tiger Woods katika michezo ni miongoni mwa historia zenye mvuto wa aina yake.Kwa mujibu wa tovuti yake,ameshashinda zaidi ya mashindano 93. Aliweka historia ya kuwa kijana mdogo zaidi kushinda taji maarufu la Masters.Alikuwa na umri wa miaka 21. Tiger amesomea Chuo Kikuu cha Stanford.Alifundishwa kucheza mchezo wa golf na baba yake mzazi,Earl.Baba yake alikuwa mwanajeshi,mmarekani mweusi wakati mama yake ana asili ya Thailand.Mwaka jana Tiger Woods alitajwa kuwa mwanamichezo aliyelipwa zaidi akiwa amekusanya jumla ya dola milioni 110 kutoka katika michezo na matangazo ya biashara.
BINGWA wa zamani wa masumbwi katika uzito wa juu duniani, Evander Holyfield wa Marekani amepanga kwenda Uganda kuzichapa na Francois ‘White Buffalo’ Botha wa Afrika Kusini.
Kwa mujibu wa waratibu wa pambano hilo la kimataifa, wababe hao watazichapa Januari 16, wakiwania mkanda wa dunia wa WBF.
Pambano hilo ambalo litavuta hisia za wengi, litapiganwa siku hiyo katika Uwanja wa Taifa wa Mandela, mjini Kampala, Uganda. Kwa habari zaidi,bonyeza hapa.
Machupa ni mfungaji hodari. Usemi huo pekee unatosha kumuelezea Athuman Iddi Machupa (pichani) mshambuliaji kijana ambaye kwa upande wa Tanzania, aliwika zaidi alipokuwa akichezea timu ya soka ya Simba maarufu kama “Watoto wa Msimbazi”.
Hivi leo Machupa anasakata kabumbu nchini Sweden akiwa na timu ya Vasalund IF.
Niliwasiliana na Machupa hivi karibuni na kumuuliza maswali machache. Haya hapa mahojiano yetu;
BC: Mpaka sasa mambo yanakwendaje hapo Sweden?Unachezea timu gani na ipo daraja la ngapi?
Machupa: Kwa upande wangu hapa Sweden maisha yanakwenda poa kaka.Ninachezea timu inayoitwa Vasalund IF ilikuwa katika ligi ya Superettan (ligi ya pili kwa ukubwa hapa Sweden) lakini kwa bahati mbaya tumeshuka daraja hadi la kwanza..
BC: Umeshakaa Sweden kwa muda wa kutosha sasa.Unapaonaje na zaidi unaonaje nafasi za kuendeleza soka lako?
Machupa: Kwa sasa kaka napeleka mwaka hapa na kwa upande wangu mi naona maisha ni mazuri na hata nafasi ya kusonga mbele kwangu ni kubwa mno.Nazidisha bidii katika kila kitu na inshallah nitafanikiwa zaidi na zaidi.
BC: Kama mgeni katika nchi ya watu,ni mambo gani ambayo ilibidi ukabiliane nayo kwanza? Hapa nazungumzia mambo kama vile lugha,vyakula nk
Machupa: Of coz lugha kaka ni ngumu. Lakini nashukuru jamaa wamenishughulikia masuala yote ya muhimu ikiwa ni pamoja sehemu ya kujifunza lugha yao.Na kuhusu chakula; kwa kusema ukweli ni kizuri tu. Hakina tofauti sana na cha nyumbani Tanzania kwa sababu najipikia mwenyewe chakula ninachojisikia kula.Hali ya hewa nayo ilikuwa changamoto lakini taratibu ninazoea.
“Hebu ngoja nicheki kama vitu vishaiva”
BC: Una ujumbe gani kwa vijana wengine wanaosakata soka nyumbani Tanzania?
Machupa: Ujumbe wangu kwa vijana wanaosakata soka na hususani waliopo nyumbani ni kwamba waheshimu soka kwani soka ni kazi kama zilivyo kazi zingine zozote.Ukiheshimu soka hakika utafanikiwa.
BC: Mwakani ni mwaka wa kombe la dunia.Safari hii kipute kipo Africa.Nini matarajio yako kwa nchi za Afrika?
Machupa: Ni changamoto kubwa kwa timu za Africa ambazo zimefanikiwa kuingia katika finali hizo. Tusubiri tuone kwa sababu nina uhakika watajiandaa vizuri. Nina uhakika hatutosikia madai ya posho. Nina imani watatuwakilisha vyema kabisa,sina wasiwasi na hilo. Ila nahisi Ghana watafanya vizuri. Nawa-support.
Machupa akiwa mazoezini na timu yake.Anaonekana kulia katika picha akijaribu kutuliza mpira chini.
BC: Una lolote la kuongeza kwa mashabiki wako?
Machupa: Mashabiki ndio kila kitu.Nawapenda na ninawaheshimu sana na hakika bila wao hatuwezi songa kwa sababu wao ndio wanaotukosoa pale tunapokosea.I love all my fans popote walipo.
Just a couple of weeks ago, he started his career as an NBA player. But before long, he broke his jaw in an incident involving him and his teammate, Zach Randolph. He actually suffered a ridgeline fracture in his mandible- a bone in his lower jaw.
Since the incident, his fans and well wishers have been praying for his quick recovery while his critics have also used the same opportunity to nail him down or try to elevate him. It just depends on how one looks at criticism.
I recently caught up with him, whereby, he took time to talk about his health and also to answer some of what his critics have been saying. Here is how my mini-interview with him went down…
BC: A lot of your fans and supporters have been worried about you since the jaw-breaking incident. Can you briefly tell me and of course…your fans how are you doing now and whether you are back in training and all that?
Hasheem Thabeet: Niko powa kabisa… I’m doing great. I have been back to work/practice since Monday and I am looking forward to play tonight when we play against L.A Clippers. I am a tough kid and don’t like to sit on a bench. I wouldn’t miss a game if it was my choice. But this is a professional level and coaches go with what they have been having or players that have been there before me. For now I am an additional and don’t mind playing that role.
BC: Some critics have been saying that you are not or were not ready for NBA and all that. I am sure you have heard such comments and criticism. What is your reaction?
Hasheem Thabeet: I know people have been talking and saying that I am not ready and or I should not have been drafted by Memphis and therefore suggesting I should have joined another team where there are more veterans so as to learn more and stuff. My answer to them is that; that is not or can’t work for everybody. If you may recall, Memphis Grizzlies drafted Pau Gasol. He was young and almost by himself. But eventually he ended where he is now…with a ring (Lakers).
I look at the situation differently. They drafted me for a lot of different reasons such as potential, progress, presence and production. That is what pushes to me to go out there and learn and strive to be better every day. There is a good reason they pay me $4 M per year.
So while I thank everybody for their advises, comments and criticism and try to understand those who keep doubting me or just hating for no well founded reasons, I wish to inform everyone that I am definitely making a progress and that is why I am able to survive the everyday’s routines of practices and the league itself.
BC: Thank you very much Hasheem. Wish you all the best.
Hasheem Thabeet: Thanks Jeff
Msimu wa 2009/10 wa ligi maarufu ya mpira wa kikapu ya nchini Marekani(NBA) unaanza hivi leo. Ni mwanzo wa mikikimikiki ya ushindani mkali ambao hutawala ligi hiyo.
Kwa watanzania wengi, macho na masikio yao,watayaelekeza kwa Hasheem Thabeet ambaye kwa mapana na marefu atakuwa sio tu anaitafutia timu yake ya Memphis Grizzlies ushindi,bali pia atakuwa akiipeperusha bendera ya nchi yake ya Tanzania kwa njia moja au nyingine.
Habari za Hasheem zitakuwa sio tu za uchezaji bali pia jinsi ambavyo ni “ndoto iliyotimia” kwa kijana kutoka nchi ya “ulimwengu wa tatu” kama ya Tanzania kufikia kiwango cha kucheza katika ligi ya NBA ambayo hata huko Marekani kwenyewe,vijana wengi hutamani sana kufanya hivyo.
Bila shaka jina la Tanzania litatajwa mara nyingi kuliko kawaida katika matangazo ya ligi hiyo.Ni kwa sababu ya Hasheem Thabeet,mtanzania wa kwanza kuchezea katika ligi hiyo.Haishangazi kuona kwamba watu wengi,wakiwemo viongozi wetu,wanajitahidi kuwa karibu zaidi na Hasheem Thabeet.Jina lake ni ishara ya ushindi.Ni lulu.
Ingawa Hasheem hayupo bado katika “First Five” ya timu yake ya Grizzlies Memphis,bila shaka atacheza kesho wakati timu yake itakapowakaribisha, Detroit Pistons (kutoka jijini Detroit,Michigan) mjini Memphis,Tennesse yalipo makao makuu ya Grizzlies Memphis.Watabiri wa mambo wanasema Hasheem tayari ameonyesha uwezo mkubwa wa kuzuia mirusho ya timu pinzani lakini wanashauri azidishe juhudi katika rebounding.Bila shaka anasikia na atazingatia ushauri huo na pia wa makocha wake.
BC inaungana na wote wanaomtakia kheri Hasheem.Tunaelewa kwamba mafanikio ya Hasheem ndio mwanzo wa mafanikio ya vijana wengine wengi wa kitanzania ambao naamini kabisa,endapo watapewa nafasi,wanaweza pia kufikia kiwango cha Hasheem.Kila la kheri HT.
Hivi karibuni,tajiri bilionea mmiliki wa timu maarufu ya soka ya Chelsea FC ya nchini Uingereza, Roman Abramovich, alitinga nchini Tanzania na akiwa na nia ya kutalii na kuupanda mlima mrefu kupita yote barani Afrika yaani Mlima Kilimanjaro.
Safari ya Bilionea Abramovich kuja kupanda Mlima Kilimanjaro ilikuwa ni habari kubwa iliyoripotiwa na vyombo lukuki vya habari hususani nchini Tanzania na Uingereza.Kilichoifanya habari hiyo kuwa kubwa hakutokani tu na ukweli kwamba Abramovich ni miongoni mwa watu matajiri sana ulimwenguni bali pia ni ule uhusiano uliopo miongoni mwa mchezo wa soka ulimwenguni huku mashabiki wa timu ya Chelsea anayoimiliki Abramovich ya Chelsea ikiwa na mashabiki kibao ulimwenguni wakiwemo pia wale wanaoishi na kuitazama timu hiyo kutokea Tanzania.
Ingawa Roman Abramovich hakufika kileleni, ni wazi kwamba,kwa namna moja au nyingine,amesaidia kuinua soko la utalii la Tanzania na hususani upandaji wa Mlima Kilimanjaro.
Lakini ni nani aliyemuongoza njia Roman Abramovich? Kuna wadadisi wameuliza swali hili na tuna furahi kwamba jibu lake tumelipata. Aliyekuwa guide wa Roman na rafiki zake anaitwa Isaac Kitindi(pichani juu ndiye anayeonekana kushoto akiwa na Roman.
Isaac ni Mhitimu wa Advanced Diploma katika masuala ya Wildlife Management kutoka Chuo cha Elimu na Utawala wa Wanyamapori cha Mweka kilichopo Moshi,Kilimanjaro. Isaac alikuja Tanzania maalumu kwa shughuli ya kumsindikiza Roman Abramovich mlimani kwani hivi sasa anasomea masuala ya Huduma ya Kwanza (First Aid Training) katika chuo kikuu maarufu cha Havard nchini Marekani.
Isaac Kitindi ambaye wenzake hupenda kumuita Mountain Madness kutokana na umahiri wake wa kuupanda Mlima Kilimanjaro hivi sasa yupo njiani kurejea Havard huku kukiwa na habari kwamba atapitia nchini Uingereza ambapo ataonana tena na Roman Abramovich kwa mazungumzo ya kuileta Tanzania timu ya Chelsea FC hapo mwakani.
Ukitaka kujua ilikuwaje mpaka Roman Abramovich akashindwa kufika kileleni,bonyeza hapa.
Pichani ni Hasheem Thabeet akifungwa kamba za viatu na mama yake mzazi,Rukia.Hapo ilikuwa Ikulu jijini Dar-es-salaam wakati Hasheem alipokwenda kumsalimia Rais Jakaya Kikwete.
Hivi karibuni Hasheem alijiunga na timu ya Memphis Grizzlies na hivyo kuwa Mtanzania wa kwanza kujiunga na ligi ya mpira wa kikapu nchini Marekani(NBA) ambayo inaaminika kuwa ligi bora zaidi ya mchezo huo duniani. Ataanza rasmi kuichezea timu yake katika msimu wa 2009/10 ambao unatarajiwa kuanza Octoba mwaka huu.
Binafsi nimependa sana kitendo cha mama kumfunga kamba mwanae. Nadhani ni ishara nzuri kwamba hata iweje,mtoto kwa mama hakui. Kwa wengi anaweza kuwa “superstar” lakini kwa wazazi anabakia kuwa mtoto tu!
Kwa picha zaidi kuhusu ziara ya Hasheem Thabeet,bonyeza hapa.
Kama uliwahi kutabiri kwamba siku moja mtanzania Hasheem Thabeet atakuja kuchezea katika ligi ya mpira wa kikapu ya NBA, unayo sababu ya kujidai kwani utabiri wako umetimia jioni hii(saa za New York).Hasheem Thabeet amechaguliwa kujiunga na timu ya Memphis Grizzlies yenye makao yake makuu huko Memphis katika jimbo la Tennessee nchini Marekani.
Hasheem anakuwa mtanzania wa kwanza kufikia hatua hiyo.Kama nchi tuna kila sababu ya kufurahia mafanikio yake na kumtakia kila la kheri. Hivi sasa anakuwa,bila shaka, “balozi” wetu katika ulimwengu wa michezo hususani mpira wa kikapu. Kila la kheri Hasheem.
University of Connecticut Junior Men’s basketball player,Hasheem Thabeet, has been named the BIG EAST Conference Co-Player of The Year for 2008-2009.For more information click here.
You can also click here to see other records and awards that have gone to Hasheem and The Huskies this season.
Congratulations Hasheem.