President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday inaugurated the state- of-the-art Jakaya M Kikwete (JMK) Youth Park, saying the new sports facility in Dar es Salaam is the definite way of transforming the country’s sports.
President Jakaya Kikwete kicks the ball at a grand ceremony to officially open the Jakaya M. Kikwete Youth Park (JMK) at Kidongo Chekundu, located at Mnazi Mmoja in Dar es Salaam yesterday. (Photo by Mohamed Mambo)
He said the completion of the park at Kidongo Chekundu, marks the beginning of the new era of the country’s sports history, as it provides various facilities for youth to nurture their talents in a professional manner.
“We are so lucky to have this unique facility and we have to thank Symbion Power and Sunderland AFC for their wonderful job and generosity to us. The onus is ours now to make good use and maximise the facility,” said the president.
He urged Tanzanians to repay the generosity by ensuring that they sustain the quality and standard of the park and make sure that the targeted people – boys and girls benefit from the new park. The president also commended Symbion Power and Sunderland AFC partnership which has facilitated the completion of the project in time.
The park consists of modern football pitch, two basketball courts, hockey, netball and beach volleyball courts. “Symbion Power and Sunderland AFC have fulfilled their promise by making possible the construction of the youth park before I complete my office term.
This is the best gift for me because I will be leaving office in few weeks time,” said President Kikwete. Furthermore, the president said his government was committed in developing sports because he knows the contribution of sports in the country’s development economically and socially.
During an occasion organised by the Tanzania Sports Writers Association (TASWA) on Monday to honour him for his contribution in sports development for the past ten years, President Kikwete said he has made one last move to support sports by initiating construction of a new state-of-the-art community based Sports Park. He said the new park will give the youth in Tanzania a pubic facility and professional coaching, the likes of which they have not had access to before.
President Kikwete laid a foundation stone and planted a symbolic palm tree on the site late last year, to mark a milestone in the construction of the park. JMK Park, constructed to the tune of 2 million US dollars (about 4bn/-), is part of Symbion Power, Grasshopper Soccer and English Premier League side Sunderland AFC’s groundbreaking football partnership with Tanzania.
On his side, Symbion Power Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul Hinks said the park which will commence its duties tomorrow, provides a great opportunity for those juniors who were unable to pay or have access to such facilities. He promised that the firm with its fantastic partners will maintain the quality and standards of the park. “I’m happy that I have fulfilled my dreams of providing proper facilities for the boys and girls of this country.
I used to see them playing football at the beaches when I was staying at Msasani village some years ago,” disclosed Hinks. On her part, Sunderland AFC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Magaret Byrne, expressed her delightfulness for completion of the park which they are going to manage and provide technical support in collaboration with US National Basketball Association (NBA). She expressed their commitment in nurturing and developing talents.
She also thanked Symbion Power and other partners for making the project a reality. According to NBA Africa Managing Director, Amadou Gallo Fall, who was also present in the launching ceremony, NBA will launch Jr NBA league, which will feature 30 teams from schools across Dar es Salaam whereby, each of the schools will represent one of the 30 NBA teams.
By BETRAM LENGAMA, Tanzania Daily News