Mbeya will host this year’s national handball championship next month. The Tanzania Amateur Handball Association (TAHA) Secretary General, Nicholas Mihayo, said in Dar es Salaam seven teams have already confirmed their participation in the event to battle for the national club championship.
He named them as Prisons, Ngome, JKT, Mpwapwa, Dar Stars, Mbeya and Police Ruvuma. He further said that for the first time the association has decided to invite two teams from Zanzibar to take part in the event in a bid to make the event more competitive.
“We’ve extended invitations to Nyuki and JKU as they are among the Isles clubs which have high quality of handball. We expect a positive response,” Mihayo said.
“We have decided to welcome the duo, which are among the best clubs in the Zanzibar league, because we expecting they pose a stiff challenge that will make the tournament more competitive,” he added.
Mihayo urged stakeholders and sponsors to facilitate the event which is crucial in the development of the sport in the country.
“We need support that will motivate the clubs and players to display high standard of handball,” he said. The TAHA chief noted that if they managed to secure sponsorship, trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, best players and umpires.
According to Mihayo, the national championship will be followed by the annual Union Day tournament to be held in Dar es Salaam in April as part of celebrations to mark the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
“Last year’s event was held in Zanzibar, now it is Tanzania Mainland’s turn to host it,” he said. He added that the two tournaments will be used to select players who will form the national team.
Source Tanzania Daily News