Mission: To promote health, fitness, wellness, leadership, teamwork, unity, peace and collaboration among Tanzanians in the USA.

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026 (The Saturday of the Memorial Day Weekend).

Time: 11:00 am SHARP – 3:00 pm SHARP. Please arrive early and on time. If you come late, you will miss all the important action.

Location: Rep Field House- New Albany, 5524 N Hamilton Rd, Columbus, OH 43230.

Entrance Ticket Price: $0.00 (Free) – If you are planning to attend, please register by clicking the “Register” button up above under this page’s title. This helps us in planning for security, crowd control and attendance capacity.

Event Description:
The Rwabutaza Basketball Classic is a Tanzanian basketball tournament in Columbus, Ohio, whose mission is to promote health, fitness, wellness, leadership, teamwork, unity, peace and collaboration among Tanzanians in USA. It is a two-team women’s basketball tournament and a four-team men’s basketball tournament.

There are four men’s teams. Two are home teams with Columbus and Ohio players, and two are guest teams with out of state players from out of state of Ohio.

Men’s home teams are (Click team names to view teams):

1. Ruaha Wild Dogs
2. Serengeti Hyenas

Men’s guest teams are:

1. Manyara Vipers
2. Tarangire Pythons

The men’s championship games will follow the following 4-team bracket schedule.

On Friday Opening Night, a draw will be held to randomly select Teams A and B from the first bucket of two home teams, and then Teams C and D from the second bucket of two guest teams.

On Saturday, there will be two men’s semi-final games between Team A and Team D in Game 1, and between Team B and Team C in Game 2. Winners will advance to Sunday’s men’s final.

On Sunday, the first game will be the women’s final game between Mikumi Leopards and Zanzibar Sharks, and then followed by the men’s final.

The Time Format of The Men’s Championship Games: 4 quarters of 10 minutes of stoppage regulation time; and 5 minutes of additional overtime periods in case of a tie, until a winner is found. There is a 1 minute break between each quarter, and a 5-minute half time break.

Officials:
Referee 1: Joseph Kingu Malekela
Referee 2: Paul Materu
Score Keeper: Jennifer Mutabirwa
Time Keeper: Hans Lundenga

Statisticians
1. Frank Mwemezi (Points)
2. Yuliks Ulinda Ali (Rebounds)
3. Leticia Mutabirwa (Assists)
4. Leticia Mutabirwa (Steals)
5. Linus Muki Buhanza (Blocks)
6. Linus Muki Buhanza (Fouls)

Guest Of Honor: _________________

Event Coordinator: ___________________

Hosts:
1. Morine Mwalujuwa.
2. Suzan Mchao.

Guest of Honor’s Table:
1. Eva Kiwelu.
2. Mohammed Abdalla.

DJ’s:
1. Ian Lyatuu.

Official Photographers:
1. Salva Muhaya.

Official Videographers:
1. Salva Muhaya.

Basketball Equipment and Gear Managers

(All Players In Complete Jerseys, 2+ Basketballs, 2+ Whistles, Game Timers, Two Referees’ Striped Shirts, Statistics Sheets, Guest of Honor Table, Officials Tables and Chairs, Spectators’ Benches and Chairs, Women’s Champions Trophy, Men’s Champions Trophy, Women’s MVP Trophy, Men’s MVP Trophy):
1. ______________.
2. ______________.

The 2026 Rwabutaza Basketball Classic Event Schedule (Please Arrive On Time):

Welcome! Karibu!