For the first time in history, Tanzania will host Roll ball African tournament at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam from August 26-31, this year.
Players are intensifying their training and the selection of teams that will participate in the 2014 competition will be made soon, according to the Tanzania Roll ball Association (TRBA) President, Noel Kiunsi. “For the first time in history, Tanzania will host the Roll ball competition that will involve five African nations.
The event has been sanctioned by the National Sports Council (NSC) and given the permit by TRBA,” said Kiunsi. Kiunsi named the four participating countries as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and hosts Tanzania.
They will compete in Under-14 and senior categories. He said players, both men and women, are undergoing intensive training at the University of Dar es Salaam grounds to keep shape for the tournament and from there they will select the final teams. He called on well wishers to supporting the teams so that they can prepare smoothly for the coming event.
“We call upon the corporate bodies to come on board and help the teams which need funds to purchase the necessary training equipment,” said Kiunsi.
“Hosting this game for the first time in Tanzania is a good opportunity for the youth to see the sport because it’s new in the country which has, however, been participating in tournaments staged in other nations,” he added.
Roll ball is a combination of four sports including roller-skating, basketball, handball and athletics. It involves a lot of running. “The sport is played between two teams of 12 players each, only six players are allowed on the court at a time, and is played on skates,” Kiunsi said.
He said the ball can be held in single or both hands, even during passing. A player must dribble the ball while carrying it.
A match is handled by two referees and goals are scored while skating on inline or quad roller skates on a court that is similar in size and shape to a regular basketball court.
According to Kiunsi, the game was introduced in Tanzania in 2011 and the country has so far participated in two world competitions held in India and Kenya.
By MARY RAMADHANI, Tanzania Daily News
