The government has promised to provide all national sports associations with offices at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam to ease their operations.
Deputy Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Juma Nkamia, made the promise when closing this year’s Safari National Pool Championship at the Kuringe Hall in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region on Sunday evening.
He noted that sports associations are currently without permanent offices and addresses, thus hindering smooth operations and communications.
Nkamia also said the government will support this year’s Africa Pool Championship to be held in the country in November and Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda is expected to grace the opening ceremony.
He called on the Tanzania Pool Association (TPA) to arrange a meeting with the ministry to discuss how they are going to participate in other major competitions such as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
He was, however, not happy with the way the association is operating and he gave it a 60-day ultimatum to conduct elections throughout the country to get legitimate leaders.
“How is it possible that you (TPA) stay in office for seven years without elections?” queried Nkamia, who also wanted to know why Zanzibar teams did not take part in the tournament. “I’m so embarrassed not to see a team from Zanzibar in the championship. Why are they not here? I want an explanation,” he insisted.
The Deputy Minister dismissed as baseless and unfounded claims that Tanzania is faring poorly in international sports competitions, especially soccer, because it relies heavily on foreigners.
He noted that there are only 15 foreign soccer players taking part in the Premier League while there are about 450 home-grown ones representing the 14 elite clubs.
He added: “May I ask you who are here how many foreign players do we have in pool, athletics, basketball, boxing, table tennis and darts?”
Nkamia commended the Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL), through its Safari Lager brand, for sponsoring the annual tournament, which is rapidly gaining popularity across the country. He urged the players to use the championship to showcase their talent, promote unity and foster relations.
“Those who won cash prizes must use the money wisely because sports is employment,” he said. Speaking at the same occasion Safari Lager Brand Manager Oscar Shelukindo reiterated his company’s readiness to assist TPA in improving the standard of pool in the country by bankrolling future competitions.
Seventeen clubs from Tanzania Mainland took part in the tournament and Kinondoni’s Topland Club successfully defended their title after defeating Anatoli Club of Morogoro 13-2 in the final and were awarded a trophy, 5m/- and gold medals.
Runners-up Anatoli took home 2.5m/- and silver medals while their player Mussa Mkwega and Neema Hamisi of Tanga emerged best men and women’s players and cashed 500,000/- and 350,000/- respectively.
By MOHAMED MAMBO, Tanzania Daily News