Ikulu team got their defence of the Inter-Ministerial Games (SHIMIWI) netball title off to a flying start after thrashing RAS Morogoro 62-10 at the Jamhuri Stadium here on Saturday.
The championships commenced over the weekend with athletes from various Inter-Ministerial competing in different sport disciplines. The opening was graced by the Minister of State, President’s Office, Public Service Management, Celina Kombani.
In the official opening match of the tournament, hosts RAS Morogoro were no match for Ikulu team that dominated the proceedings from the word go, taking a commanding 33-1 lead at the interval.
And Ikulu netball team head coach Mary Protas believes her team easily cruised to a resounding victory as their opponents showed inexperience despite boasting a few talented young players.
The victory will have acted as a statement of intent from the netball title holders but Protas, former netball star, apparently warned her players against complacency, saying they should not underrate any team. She said every team has prepared well and everyone will be determined to win.
Protas named 2012 finalists Uchukuzi, Ardhi and Tamisemi as their main challengers for the title. On her side, RAS Morogoro team captain Leocadia Mwang’ombe attributed their loss to a lack of some key players but was optimistic that they will bounce back in their next game.
In football, defending champions Ministry of Education and Vocational Training played out a barren draw against RAS Arusha in uneventful match at the Jamhuri Stadium.
Elsewhere, Uchukuzi ladies outperformed holders RAS Iringa in the tug-of-war duel, whilst Ikulu won against a Foreign Affairs and International Relations team.
This year’s event features a range of sports including football, netball, athletics, draft, darts, bao, cards, tug of war and cycling.
Apart from vying for top honours, workers from government departments, institutions and ministries will be having special time for almost two weeks playing and interacting.
Seven venues have been lined up to host matches namely; Jamhuri Stadium, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Morogoro Secondary School, Saba Saba, Tumbaku and Mazimbu grounds.
By JOHN NDITI, Tanzania Daily News