Mo Dewji mourns basketball legend Mutombo

TANZANIA: SIMBA Sports Club Board Chairman, Mohammed Dewji has expressed sorrow and shared his feelings about the passing on of former basketball player Dikembe Mutombo, who died on Monday in New York, USA.

Through his Instagram page, Dewji wrote that he saw Mutombo as an African hero in basketball, especially for African players.

“He was more than just a name at Georgetown; he was an icon.

For those of us who had the privilege of knowing him, he left a mark on our lives and the community, he deeply impacted,” Dewji noted.

He added: “I first heard of Mutombo when I was a young boy, newly arrived in America, unfamiliar with the country’s sports culture.

I didn’t know much about American football, basketball, or baseball.

“By the time I joined Georgetown University Mutombo had already graduated, but his legacy lived on.

As an alumnus, his story inspired us all and we constantly heard about his incredible impact on the university, both on and off the court.”

He also shared that he later had the privilege of meeting Mutombo at philanthropy events, where they bonded over their shared dedication to helping Africans.

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“His generosity and commitment to making a difference in people’s lives left a lasting impression on me, as it did on so many others.

“His influence and contributions will forever be a part of Georgetown’s legacy.

I will always miss him and cherish the moments we shared, knowing that he made Georgetown a better place for all of us,” he said.

Mutombo, who passed away from brain cancer at the age of 58, was known for his signature move that he began in the mid-1990s as he was rising in his basketball career.