Hasheem Thabeet Takes Charge

Thabeet, who stands 7-foot-3, secured the presidency by defeating opponent Leonard Benedict Haule. He takes over the role from outgoing president Michael Millias Kadebe. Joining him on the newly elected executive committee are Mohamed Haruna Kasui as vice president, Mwenze Fiston Kabinda as general secretary, and Simon Joe Mirondo as deputy general secretary.

Thabeet is a towering figure in Tanzanian sports history. He was selected second overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, becoming the first and only Tanzanian to ever play in the world's premier basketball league. Over five NBA seasons, he also played for the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Most recently, the 39-year-old center has been active on the local scene, playing for Dar City Basketball Club. He was instrumental in helping the team navigate the Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) qualifiers, securing the club's spot in the 2026 BAL season.

Following his victory, Thabeet laid out his vision for the future of the sport in Tanzania, with a strong emphasis on youth development.

"I want to see basketball played at grassroots level in schools, with players aged under 13 and under 18 growing to senior levels," he said in his acceptance speech. "This should happen in every part of the nation, not just in the cities, so that we can build a strong foundation for the future of Tanzanian basketball.”

With his new administrative role, one major question remains: Will Thabeet continue to suit up for Dar City when they make their historic BAL debut at the 2026 Kalahari Conference in Pretoria, South Africa? For now, his focus will be on leading the federation and growing the game from the ground up.