Mapinduzi
Cup Hockey starts
By Boogie Juma
The 2005 edition of Mapinduzi Cup Hockey tournament starts today at Dar es
Salaam Gymkhana Club grounds featuring teams from Tanzania Mainland and the
Isles.
Mapinduzi Cup has been the biggest hockey tournament at the Club level for over
three decades and has remained active despite losing its former stronghold
Tanzania major sports scene.
The Secretary General of Tanzania Hockey Union (THU), Yusuf Jusabani said the
organizers were through with all necessary preparations of the event prior to
its take off this Friday.
However, Jusabani said the fixture of the matches would be released today
(Thursday).
Meanwhile, Mwananchi Cricket team from Uganda was expected to arrive yesterday
in Dar es Salaam to take part in the Mapinduzi Cup.
He said there would be all top teams from Tanzania in this year’s tournament.
He named the teams as Twiga (Arusha) Tanga Burhan and El Hillal (Tanga),
Zanzibar Combine (Zanzibar),Khalsas, Dar Institute, Kentucky, Tegeta Secondary,
Magereza and defending Champions, TPDF of Dar es Salaam.
Spanish Tiles are the main sponsors of the tournament whose winner will
represent Tanzania in East African Club Championship to be held in Nairobi Kenya
in August.
Omari
predicts tough next match for U17
By Burton Brown
The aggregate match against Zimbabwe was going to be a tough one, confessed the
Serengeti Boys’ striker Omari Matuta, the main architect behind the 3-1 win in
the previous match.
Matuta, who scored two goals for Tanzania Under 17 team said the win at the
National Stadium over the weekend has not assured the team a place in the finals
to be held in Gambia next month.
“We have to play really well to beat a wounded Zimbabweans at their home ground
since what they need is a 2-0 margin. We are sure to score and beat them even at
their home, but commitment is the much sought after quality in this match,” he
said.
According to him, the problem with his team was the defence. “Defenders lacked
proper positioning and most of the time they had to follow where the ball is,
leaving many gaps unfilled,” he said.
“Team’s defenders most of the time forgot to run back to their positions after
overlapping. If the Zimbabweans exploited that, Tanzania could concede more
goals,” he explained.
However, Matuta and his team captain, Hassan Bwaza said they were proud of their
team’s performance and promised to work extra hard in Zimbabwe to ensure
Tanzania’s place in the finals.
Omari Matuta scored the first goal for Serengeti Boys in the 7th minute and
added the second one 10 minutes to the half time.
Zimbabweans scored their consolation goal in the 68th minute while Yusuf Mgwao
bagged home the third goal barely ten minutes to the final whistle.
AAT Rally calendar released for
approval
By Joyce Macha
The Automobile Association of Motor Sports Club (AAMSC) has released a
provisional calendar for the 2005 rally season, which officially confirms the
debutants Moshi and Zanzibar Clubs in the hosts’ list.
According to the calendar sent to The Express on Wednesday, the Tanzanian
edition of African Rally Championship is to be held on February 12 and 13 which
will also mark the first National Rally Championship (NRC 1) and the first of
the six rallies under East African Challenge Rally for participants of Kenya,
Uganda and Tanzania.
The Convenor of Rally Commission of Tanzania, Arif Ahmed said Zanzibar has been
officially confirmed to stage its first rally, March 19 and 20 before AAMSC
backed inaugural 4 Wheel Drive rally in April 16 and 17.
Iringa Region has been set to stage the third National Rally Championship May 7
and 8 before Tanganyika Motor Sports Club win the stage for the fourth NRC to be
held in Dar es Salaam June 11 and 12.
After staying out of the motor rally scene for more than a decade, Kilimanjaro
Region has eventually bounced back with a ticket to stage its rally in Moshi
town July 16 and 17 to be followed by Nane Nane Rally of Arusha August 6 and 7,
2005.
According to the calendar, Dar es Salaam Motor Sports Club (DMSC) will stage the
seventh National rally in September, to be followed by Morogoro Region in
October before Tanga climaxes the season with its 9th rally in November.
Dar boxing tourney to pick
team for Intercity Championship
By Burton Brown
Dar es Salaam Amateur Boxing Association(DABA) is in its final preparations to
stage the city’s Open Boxing Championship, which will pick the team for
Intercity Boxing Championship to be held in Kigali, Rwanda in April.
Dar es Salaam is the defending Champion of the Intercity after clinching the
title in the similar event which took place in Dar es Salaam, December last
year.
The Chairman of DABA, Alhaj Shaaban Mintanga told The Express this week said the
event which normally took place in December, had now shifted to April for
convenience reasons.
He said the general elections at the end of the year, was one of the main
reasons, which made organizers switch it to in April.
In another development, Mintanga said the executive committee is expected to
meet DABA to plan for the General Elections of the regional boxing body as their
power climaxes in March this year.
“We have to respect the constitution about the leadership terms, our meeting is
intended to set strategies that will enable us pick effective leaders,” he said.
Since its coming to power last year the interim committee of DABA has managed
to revive amateur boxing by producing a number of good boxers including Leonard
Machichi and Selemani Kidunda who starred in the last Intercity competition.
TCA,
Union cricket match this Saturday
By Boogie Juma
Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) Development team Union Club in the epic
Mwalimu Nyerere cricket match at Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club grounds this
weekend.
TCA who were cruising far ahead 10 points from five matches are poised to win
the match when they face minnows, Union this Saturday.
In another development, Taher Jiwajee of Anaddil Burhan starred his team win
over Dar Gymkhana Club in the last weekend match held at Annadil Burhan Oval.
The player scored 61 runs out of 148 his team bagged. Annadil Burhan managed to
chase and beat the 147 runs managed by their opponents in the 30 overs match.
Mit Jettha and Abhik Patwa were the stars of Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club with 44
and 41 runs respectively.
In another encounter held at Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club ground, Union crushed
Ekta after the losers failed to chase 195 runs scored by the winners.
Union who batted first bagged the score, which was far above the reach of their
opponents. Ekta ended all out with 140 runs.
Dodoma League starts
By Danny Eliah, Dodoma
The Football League of division Three in Dodoma Urban district started on Sunday
this week whereby 12 teams are participating.
Samson Lubada, Deputy Secretary of Dodoma Urban Football Association (DUFA),
said when speaking with The Express at Jamhuri Stadium where the games are being
held.
He said that 12 teams were divided in two groups, where two teams from each
group will qualify to play the semi-final games.
Participating teams are Texas, Dodoma Sports, Gwassa FC, Dundee FC, Kilimani,
Magereza Kids and Afya Milembe. Others are Mpunguzi, Chadulu, Area C, Area A and
Nzunguni rangers all from Dodoma urban district.
In the first match Texas played against Dodoma sports to a draw of one goal
each, where by Texas goal was scored by Buscon Hamisi (15 minutes) and that of
Dodoma Sports was scored by Alphonce Augustine (62 minutes).
The second match between Gwassa FC vs Dundee FC saw the latter winning by two
goals scored by Nassoro Idd (53) and Issa Isack (69).
Prisons set to scout USCAR
By Burton Brown
Tanzania’s ambassadors in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup,
Prisons FC, said they have managed to secure a scout to monitor their opponents
USCAR of Madagascar in their first encounter to be held later next month.
The Chief Sports officer of the Prisons Department, Twalib Twalib told The
Express this week; the scout is a Tanzanian living in Madagascar and has been
given an assignment to find all information concerning the team.
Declining to mention the name of the scout on security reasons, Twalib said the
scout would be able to send to Prisons everything about their key players,
formation and past records in the continental events.
In another development, Twalib Twalib said his team’s preparation for the match
continued steadily and expected to face Mtibwa Sugar in their first trial match
at the National Stadium this Sunday.
He said Prisons could not face Red Arrows of Zambia in their recent visit in Dar
es Salaam due to the several unsettled matters.
“We failed to come to an agreement with tour coordinators because of their poor
programme. We are sure the trials with the local teams will help my players to
be fit for their match against USCAR,” he said.
The Preliminary Rounds of the Confederation Cup start from January 28 to 30 and
between February 11 and 13, the second leg matches will take place.
Massive entry confirmed at
Kili Half Marathon
By Joyce Macha
Over 200 local and international track stars are expected to lock horns in the
2005 edition of Mount Kilimanjaro Marathon set to take place in Moshi on
February 27.
MultiChoice Public Relations Manager, Lucy Kihwele told reporters in Dar es
Salaam this week that the 42.2.km race expected to draw participants from South
Africa, United States, Germany, and Sweden.
According to Kihwele the event offers cash prizes to winners and is officially
recognised by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).
Kihwele named categories as top five male and female overall runners, first
female and male veterans and participants from various schools. She said also
introduced this year, are the corporate challenge winners and media challenge
winners categories.
She said some of the runners expected to compete in the race include last year’s
winner Francis Naali, who is also the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Gold
medallist, and Kenyan Malack Mangera, who finished second in last year’s race.
Kihwele said the entire race will be filmed by a professional team, and shown
Africa wide on Supersport on a date to be announced later.
Apart from the Half Marathon, the day would also see runners competing in the
half Multichoice Half Marathon (21.1 km) sponsored by the Tanzania Breweries
Limited and a five-kilometre fun race to be sponsored by Celtel.
Makoye
rejoins Young Africans
By Express Reporter
The arrival of Ephraim Makoye starred the new registration of the players Dar es
Salaam Young Africans made for the 2005 league season.
Makoye, who played for the team before trying professional soccer in Rwanda
joined the Kenyans. John Okello recruited Rayon of Rwanda, John Baraza and
Paschal Ochieng who played for Mumias Sugar and Mathare United.
Other new faces that starred this year's registration include Victor Isaac
(Kahama United), Mohamed Banka, Benja Haule and Tito Andrew (Moro United), while
Chesido Andrew and Salim Kidungwe came from AFC of Arusha.
The Club’s Secretary General, Jamal Malinzi said all the players who featured in
the introduction parade at the Club’s ground had been signed and would start
playing for the Club in the forthcoming Vodacom Premier league.
“We are determined to perform well this year and avoid the last year shambles at
any cost,” said Malinzi.
There were also the players of the last season. Veteran players, Samson
Mwamanda, Abu Ntiro and Salum Athuman had a promising start during the team’s
training at Jangwani Stadium last weekend.