Rally season kicked off
successfully
By Joyce Macha
After decades of hard struggles, Tanzania eventually staged its
first international rally over the weekend.
Ugandan Alpha team of Riyaz Kurji and his co-driver, Sayed Kadri opened the 2005
Rally season with a bang after winning the Knight Support Rally of Tanzania that
ended at New Africa Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
Driving a Subaru Impreza, Kurji shrugged off the stiff opposition from 2004
Africa champion, Muna Singh and the die-hard Tanzanian youth, Navraj Hans on his
way to beat 13 other cars that managed to reach the finishing line.
The defending champion, Muna Singh and his navigator, David Sihoka settled for
the runner up spot in a Subaru Impreza.
Arusha-based youth, Navraj Hans starred the event for Tanzania when he took
third position ahead of Kenya’s top driver, Azhar Anwar who struggled in the
tricky 315km of competitive sections.
“The general Tyre Candidate Rally of 2004 gave the confidence I needed to show
that I can also drive fast. I ended third in that rally, the position that I
took in this rally. I used to think that African drivers could go like a rocket,
but now I have seen them, tested their skills, they are just like us,” said 22
year old Navraj.
A Tanga-based team of Issa Mohamed and Hassan Mamdali took fifth position in a
Subaru Impreza, followed by Toshiba team of Murtaza Kara Anaconda/Jatish Varra
who finished sixth overall in a Toyota Celica GT4.
Amarjit Dhillon and his co-driver, Dr. Wenna Brown cruised the Subaru Impreza to
7th position beating Dar es Salaam’s veteran driver, Hamid Khan who finished
eighth overall in a Nisan Pulsar. Khalid Kassam/Shaheer Khan from Arusha took
the number nine position.
“The rally has shown us the reality and our position compared to our neighbours,
Kenya and Uganda. We just need good cars to shoot far ahead of others in this
sport,” said Ahmed Huwel of Iringa.
Kirit Pandya of Dar es Salaam emerged the winner in the Group S category that
saw only three cars making it to the finishing line.
The category’s runners up were Pano Calavria and Frank Forster of Dar es Salaam
while the Morogoro-based team of Kelvin and Isaac Taylor finished third.
The first day started with 19 cars after 20 failed due to various reasons. Daudi
Kidawawa, Burundian Rudy Catanhede, Kinje Ngombale, Mehboob Sadik, Twalib
Mohamed, Thalal Islam, Salim Haji were part of the drivers who surrendered in
the first day competition.
The second day saw six cars failing to finish, including Omar Bakhressa, Ahmed
Huwel, Sameer Shanto, all from gearbox failure.
Kikonzi stars in TCA win over
EKTA
By Boogie Juma
Athuman Kikonzi led Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) Development Team to a
spectacular win over EKTA in the ongoing Mwalimu Nyerere Cricket tournament
bowled over the weekend at Annadil Burhan Oval.
Teamed up with Benson Mwita, Kikonzi fired 50 runs for TCA while his partner
Mwita managed 44 runs in a 24 overs match.
TCA ended victorious after beating hapless EKTA by ten wickets.
EKTA failed to chase 197 runs scored by TCA when they ended with 57 runs in 24
overs all out.
Khalil Rehemtullah and Benson Mwita had each successfully made three wickets
followed by Kikoni and Hamisi Abdallah who managed two wickets each.
Last Sunday’s win has assured TCA Development Team a place in the final. They
will meet either Dar es Salaam Gymkhana or Annadil Burhan.
In another development, Tanzania Women Cricket team will start their title
defense campaign against Uganda in the opening match of the African Women
Cricket Championship scheduled to start March 6 in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to the event’s coordinator Zully Rehemtullah, Tanzania will play the
second match March 7 when they face Kenya.
Simba, Enyimba match fever
grips Dar
By Burton Brown
Following their 3-2 aggregate win in Maputo over the weekend, Simba
will now face Enyimba FC from Nigeria in the second round of African Club
Championship scheduled to start next month.
Enyimba is one of the best African teams at present and the reigning champions
and Simba know they have a tough challenge ahead.
Simba met Enyimba twice last year during the group stage of the African Club
Championship. Enyimba beat Simba 3-0 in Nigeria before the Msimbazi Boys took
revenge with a 2-1 victory.
Simba’s 1-1 draw against Ferroviario was a relief to the club following the
unsatisfactory training the team received ahead of their Maputo mission.
Focus on basketball when
women’s sports event opens
By Burton Brown
The hot race for the supremacy involving three Kili RBA League players is
expected to colour the second edition of the Women’s Special Sports Bonanza set
for this Saturday at Shaaban Roberts Secondary School in Dar es Salaam.
Kili RBA League players who play for Jeshi Stars, JKT Stars and Cargo Ladies,
the teams that have dominated Tanzania’s basketball for over two decades, will
be the major attractions in the event that takes place for the fifth year
running.
Organised by Right To Play (an NGO) and the National Sports Council (NSC), the
event has attracted more than 400 participants from various sports.
The NSC official, Juliana Yassoda told The Express that the bonanza carries the
theme “Women and Environment” and would feature football, handball, netball,
basketball and a range of athletic games.
According to Yassoda, the bonanza will be preceded by discussion sessions on
ways of how women can live in and care for their environment. The discussion
will be addressed by J Environment Development and Management Association (JEMA)
and will put focus on the importance of the environment and how to care for it.
Yassoda named the teams which have confirmed their participation as: Zanaki,
Kisutu, Shaban Robert, Mzizima, St. Mary’s, Right to play, Emima Temeke, Ilala,
Magomeni, Ngome, Milambo and Dallas Queens. Winners will be awarded with
certificates and trophies.
In another development Yassoda said they are going to have a basketball clinic
whereby Shaban Robert’s, Mzizima and St. Mary’s basketball teams will have a
demonstration match as an introduction to the sport and the development of the
basic skills needed for the sports.
Mt. Kilimanjaro Marathon open for
disabled
By Burton Brown
Six disabled athletes from Dar es Salaam have begun serious training
for the Mount Kilimanjaro Marathon to take place around Moshi Town, Kilimanjaro
on February 27.
Mount Kilimanajaro International Marathon will feature the gruelling 42 km
marathon; 21 km half marathon and 5,000 m race.
The Director of Executive Solution and the coordinator of the event, Aggrey
Marealle said the disabled to compete in the race are Mwanaidi Ng’itu, Willbad
Constantino Mathias Jolo, Thomas Kilingo, John Mathias and Haji Amour.
He said some of the disabled will race in the marathon and there will be special
racing bicycles for some of the disabled.
According to Marealle, the winner in the disabled category will receive Tsh.
100, 000, the runner up Tsh. 75,000 and second runner up will get Tsh. 50, 000.
New Dar
Gymkhana leaders out next week
By Joyce Macha
The Annual General Meeting of the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club golf section will
be held on February 23 in the City.
In a statement issued this week, the golf section’s Secretary General, Grace
Arnott said that the meeting would be accompanied by the general election of the
golf section.
Topics to be discussed during the meeting include: Treasurer’s report, captain
report and election of new office bearers.
She said that any member wishing to propose any motion to be discussed during
the meeting was requested to give his or her notice before the day of meeting.
According to Arnott, all members seeking to contest for various positions should
put their names on the notice board at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club.
The posts to be contested for are: captain, vice captain, secretary, treasurer,
‘C’ division captain, green keeper, competition secretary, handicap secretary
and lady captain representative.
NSC orders TASA, stakeholders
meeting
By Boogie Juma
The National Sports Council has instructed Tanzania Swimming
Association (TASA) to hold a meeting with stakeholders under its custody.
The Acting Chairman of TASA, Martin Mpembee told The Express that the decision
was reached during the meeting held between TSA and the Sports Council over the
weekend during the assessment of the amended constitution of the swimming body.
“NSC has given us 14 days to hold a meeting with the stakeholders under the
supervision of NSC so as to discuss various activities of the swimming body
including the General Election of the association leaders,” said Mpembee.
According to Mpembee, the registrar of the Sports Associations, Leonard Thadeo
had ordered for a permanent leadership after the association remained under an
interim committee for two years, since 2003.
Mpembee said the executive committee of TASA would meet this Saturday at Dar es
Salaam Swimming Pool to discus the issue.
According to the source, the executive meting of TASA will fix a date for the
meeting with the stakeholders which will meet the deadline set by the Sports
Council.
Simba FC invited to Dodoma
By Danny Eliah, Dodoma
Football fans in Dodoma have requested Simba FC management to have
the team’s home matches transferred to Dodoma Municipality from the National
Stadium in Dar es Salaam for the coming Vodacom League season.
The suggestion comes after Simba’s current home ground is set for demolition,
paving way for the construction of a modern soccer stadium.
The fans said that since Simba FC has already announced that it may go to
Morogoro or Mwanza, the best place will be Dodoma as it is the capital of the
country and the seat of the government.
They believe Simba will be lucky at Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma, as it was the
venue where they emerged champions last year.
Dodoma Region Football Association (DOREFA) management said they support the
idea of inviting Simba FC to Dodoma and will give them all the support they will
need.
Samba Sports Club, through its Acting Secretary General Hassan Hassanoo,
recently announced the Club’s intention to make Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro or
Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza its home ground following Tanzania Football Federation
(TFF) requesting the Club and their archrivals Yanga to inform the public where
they will camp as the National Stadium has officially closed.
back to headlines
TZ rugby faces tough test
By Mbonile Burton
Tanzania National Rugby squad is facing a tough challenge this year with
participation in various international assignments, including the much-sought
World Cup Qualifying series.
Tanzania qualified to play in the Super 16 last year after excelling in the
Tri-National championship that took place at Braeburn School, Arusha.
The national team head coach, Tinus Aucamp told The Express that it was in their
plan to make sure that the newly formed Tanzanian team pass the Super 16 hurdle
and join the world class tournaments.
“We beat Burundi and Rwanda in last year’s Tri-Nations, but we lost all of our
matches in the Super 16 bowl held in Swaziland. We want this time to go far
beyond that,” said Aucamp.
He further said the Tanzania Rugby Union (TRU) would name the national squad
March 19 this year soon after the end of the national league.
He said the team would bring together about 25 to 30 players.
According to Aucamp, players will be selected from the three teams including the
league’s defending champions, The Rhinos of Arusha. The other two are Dar es
Salaam Leopards and Moshi Combine team.
He said the team will be camped at Arusha and Dar es Salaam in five training
sessions starting April in preparations for the international games.
Vodacom awards League’s best
performers
By Burton Brown
Vodacom Tanzania Limited awarded the teams that excelled in the 2004
edition of the Vodacom Premier League in a brief ceremony held yesterday at the
National Conference Hall, PPF Tower, Dar es Salaaam.
The league champions, Simba received Tsh. 27 million while the runners up Mtibwa
Sugar walked home with Tsh. nine million.
However, the league sponsors did not give the prize to the second runners up as
it was earlier announced in the contract signed last year.
Abubakar Mkangwa of Mtibwa Sugar collected Tsh. one million for his best scorer
prize.
Vodacom postponed the award giving ceremony three times due to the unsolved
cases and appeals lodged to the soccer governing bodies, Tanzania Football
Federation and the National Sports Council (NSC).