The Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF) has pledged to join efforts in reviving sports in schools and other academic institutions in the country, as a way to get the country out of the current deadlock.
This was said by PSPF Northern Zone Officer in-charge, Stella Genda at a bonanza the fund organised for Mandaka Teachers Training College here on Thursday, noting how sad her institution was for the country to be at a record low in several sports.
She said sports development would remain in doldrums unless the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports and other sports stakeholders move to re-activate sports in schools and among children.
Genda said it is at schools level where talents can be discovered but sadly they are not tapped to a full potential.
She said PSPF is ready to offer any assistance to improve the standard of sports in the country.
She urged students in different institutions to engage in sports activities as part of learning process.
She sports helps sharpen minds and keep the body fit as well as to bringing about good relations among people, different institutions and regions.
She said the society needs to embrace a tradition to nurture upcoming talents, make children love sports and consequently develop them for betterment of the place they come from, as well as for the nation in international competitions.
The bonanza saw teachers compete in several sports, including tug-of-war, sack race, athletics and basketball.
Speaking during the event, PSPF Regional Officer in-charge, Salim Kimbute said the public is yet to get enough sports awareness, how and why they should participate in the sports sector as individuals as well as groups.
PSPF has, due to that, initiated a programme to raise the awareness and encourage members of the public to participate in sporting events. PSPF donated 1.5m/- to make the event a reality.
Some of participants in the bonanza, Justine Kibiti and Frank Mfinanga hailed PSPF for sponsoring the event and donating sports equipment to the college.
They said the college was facing lack of sports equipment. Mandaka TCC was established in 1960 as a middle school under the authority of the Assumption Sisters of the Roman Catholic Church.
The capacity of the school at that time was 350 students and the course of study lasted one year.
The college currently offers Grade IIIA courses in science, mathematics, geography, home economics, education, ICT, history, civics, English and Kiswahili.
By DEUS NGOWI, Tanzania Daily News