Iringa: Basketball

View of the courts to the east with the event hall and other buildings in the background

When I was younger I was very active in team sports and I've found it's a great way to connect with people abroad. Much like language, I am forced to pick up whatever the locals play. I remember learning to play cricket in Jamaica and soccer in Nigeria. But a sport that I am familiar with is basketball, though it's difficult to find a court and enough players given the lack of popularity for basketball. When I was living in Uganda I was lucky enough to find access to a basketball court and enough players for full court. And luck strikes again as I've found a regular spot in Iringa.

There is a basketball court in a large complex of a Lutheran church. The area is labeled a student center but there is a large event hall (I attended a meeting there with 1,000 people), several buildings, and a large field where people also play football. There have been events there such as a DSTV fun day and a medical outreach activity. Every day there are around 50 kids that meet at a building and practice church song and dance. It's really a fantastic recreation center and the court is in decent shape. It also has a beautiful view of the hills on the east and west of Iringa with a nice sunset every evening. 

Kichangani basketball is a loose group of around six regulars and 15 people that rotate. There are usually enough players for full court and the skill level is typically enough for the game to be fun. The thing I love the most is although the guys play hard they are not fouling hard or driving the lane recklessly, the type of stuff that leads to injuries. Everyone plays safe and respectfully and more importantly, plays to have fun. We meet around 5:30pm and play till it's dark, around 7pm. The majority of the guys are probably between 20-25 with one other guy around my age.

At the end of every game we gather in a circle and take turns giving feedback of the days game. Then we hold hands in a circle, say a little prayer, and then do an old school call and response where one person says "Kichangani" and the others shout "basketball!". It's all rather wholesome!

View to the west