NBC renews
sponsorship deal with Bakhressa
By Express Reporter
The National Bank of Commerce (NBC) Ltd has renewed a US$ 23,000
(Tsh. 25.3 million) sponsorship deal with Tanzania’s leading driver Omar
Bakhressa. The money will enable him to compete in all local and international
rallies this year.
At a function at the bank’s head office yesterday, the bank also presented
Bakhressa with US$ 2,000 (Tsh. 2.2 million) ahead of the third national rally
championship in Tanga this Saturday.
The signed sponsorship deal marked three years backing by NBC.
Speaking at the function to sign the sponsorship agreement, NBC Head of
Commercial Banking, Johann Schreuder said NBC’s support was part of the bank’s
strategy to promote motor sports and other sports in the country.
“NBC has observed the growing interest of Tanzanians in motor rally. Our
continued support for Bakhressa is thus to help exploit fully the potential in
this sport to the benefit of all Tanzanian fans,” Shreuder said.
Schreuder said the US$ 2,000 payment for the Tanga Rally is part of the annual
package, which according to the agreement, is paid in instalments for every
rally Bakhressa enters.
Commenting on the renewed sponsorship, Omar Bakhressa thanked NBC for the
support urging for broader participation by other corporate institutions in the
sport.
Bakhressa also announced to have ordered an ultra modern pro-drive rally car
which expects to be ready in May this year.
He said it conforms to world class standards and made to suit Africa and world
rally championship.
Race for new
stadium
By Burton Brown
Veteran runners and rising stars met over the weekend in a special
race in response to the government’s decision to build an ultra modern national
stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Around the site of the new stadium, competitions featured a 4km and 8km race
that also involved disabled competitors.
1982 Commonwealth Games medallist, Juma Mnyampanda won the 4km race after
clocking 13 minutes, 59.92 seconds beating the seven other contestants.
One minute behind the winner was young athlete Haji Hamidu. He finished after 14
minutes and 37.75 seconds.
The second runner up position went to Aloyce Nyoni who spent 17 minutes, 53.51
seconds. Chichi Somboko of Temeke came fourth, clocking 21 minutes, 42 seconds.
Secretary General of DAAA, Lucas Nkongo said the race was also a part of the
preparations for the Dar team ahead of the national athletics championship to be
held later next month in Arusha.
In the 8km race, Joseph Daudi emerged the winner, outrunning the other six
runners. His winning time was 23 minutes, 33.56 seconds.
Salum Sumwa took the runner up position after clocking 24 minutes, 47.07
seconds. Wilbroad Constantine who is disabled was third in 27 minutes, 07.10
seconds.
Dar derby this
weekend
By Express Reporter
Tanzania’s football giants Simba and Dar Young Africans meet this
Sunday at Jamhuri Stadium, Morogoro in their first encounter of this year’s
Vodacom Premier League.
Dar Young Africans (Yanga) will be trying to seek revenge for its two losses
(both home and away) last year.
Simba has had an uphill task this season and has only managed to win one match,
something which Yanga will try to take advantage of. For Yanga’s fans awaits an
exciting match to see if Simba will manage to return to past glories.
As opposed to last year, when Yanga were in intense disputes, this year’s
managerial turmoil has had an affect on Simba’s performance on the pitch. The
club has only five points while Yanga have 15 points.
Simba bagged their first win after beating Mji Mpwapwa 1-0. Yanga’s last win
came against Transcamp in Tabora.
There is much that suggests that Simba are desperate for a win to restore piece
and tranquillity in the club.
Simba’s former committee under Ayub Chamshama was ousted last week by the club’s
members after the team’s dismal start of the league.
Yanga’s coach, Jack Chamangwana told reporters last week that he was not there
to coach players so that they beat Simba, he said he was there to coach the team
so that can play world class football.
All set for
Tanga Rally this weekend
By Express Reporter
Thought to be one of the most challenging and competitive rallies of
this year, the third edition of the National Rally Championship takes place this
Saturday in Tanga, with more than 25 drivers registered for the event.
The Tanga rally, which has for the first time attracted a number of foreign
drivers including the top seeded driver Azar Anwar, will see fewer entries in
the Group S class following the recent entry of Pano Calavria, Saleh Balhabou
and Pano Calavria in the Group N class.
Arusha-based wheeler, Daudi Kidawawa will be racing for the first time in Tanga.
“I was unlucky in Dar es Salaam, I think my wheeling debut in Tanga will bring
me back to my winning formula,” he said.
Chairman of Tanga Motor Sports Club (TMSC), Hussein Moor told The Express on
Tuesday that the number of drivers expected to hit more than the estimated 25
drivers as more entries continued to pour in.
“I expect more than 30 cars in this year’s rally if everything goes as planned,”
he said.
According to Moor, the newest entries in the event include the Jua Kali team of
Frank Taylor/Isaac Taylor and Kelvin Taylor and Bobby Taylor from Morogoro.
Another team expected to drive for the first time in Tanga is Anwar
Pandya/Sanjay Pandya from Kenya.
Others who have already confirmed their participation are Issa Mohamed Abdul
Mohamed, Ahmed Huwel, Sameer Shanto, Omar Bakhressa, Saleh Balhabou, Yusuf
Bakhressa and Pano Calavria.
Kirit Pandya, the current leader in the 2005 seeding points, will be joined by
his son Dharam Pandya to seek important points.
The competitive section of leg one starts at Pongwe and takes Pangani Road on
its way back to Mkonge Hotel.
Kikwete
visits Union basketball league’ opening
By Shaaban Omary
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and
also the patron of basketball in the country, Jakaya Kikwete will be present at
the opening of the Union basketball league on April 23 at the TCC ground in Dar
es Salaam.
Acting Secretary General of Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF), Ahmed Simba,
said preparations for the league were in the final stages.
The league will produce two teams in both men and women categories for the
African championship.
Teams that are lined up for the battle include Uloso, Stone Town and Tornado
(men) while Bandari and Chakechake will compete in the women’s category.
Mainland teams are the former East and Central African champions, Vijana “City
Bulls”, JKT and the Army Basketball Club (ABC). They will take part in the men’s
discipline
Women’s teams include Jeshi Stars, JKT, Police Tanga and Prisons (Magereza).
Already TBF has picked five referees to officiate at the Union League. The
referees are Manaseh Zablon, John Golita, Kennedy Magoigo, Samson Samwel and
George Kashmir.
Simba said fixtures will be released early next week.
SA joins Dar squash tournament
By Shaaban Omary
For the first time in history, South Africa will send teams to compete in the
Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club’s inaugural International Squash Open tournament,
held next month at the club courts.
Colonel Julius Mbilinyi, the recently elected club’s squash captain, said South
Africa’s participation would open new ties between South Africa and Kenya,
Uganda and Tanzania.
Mbilinyi said the event was earlier planned to be held this month but was
postponed for lack of funds.
“We have no funds to stage the event but for the time being we are looking for
sponsors to make it possible,” he said. It will be the first international event
of its kind to be hosted by the club.
In another development, Mbilinyi said his squash section has picked the former
national squash champion, Amos Luiza, to train new squash players to be
registered with the club, starting this Saturday.
“We want to promote the sport that’s why we have given the task to him”,
Mbilinyi said.
Netball league
on Saturday
By Shaaban Omary
On Saturday the Railways Gerezani Club in Dar es Salaam will host
the 18 teams that will compete in the first division netball league.
The league, which is being organised by the Tanzania Amateur Netball Association
(Chaneta), will for the first time involve men’s teams.
Damian Chonya, Assistant Secretary General of Chaneta, named participating teams
as Holy Ghost of Morogoro, Police Arusha, Jeshi Stars, Police Mara, JKT Mgulani,
JKT Makutupora and JKT Mbweni.
Others are Mapinduzi Dodoma, Police Tanga, Police Mara, Police Kilimanjaro,
Police Mbeya, Magereza Tabora and TP Africa.
New comers in the league, which were promoted to this year’s league are Police
Arusha, Ilala Municipal, Police Dar es Salaam and Prisons (Magereza) Dar es
Salaam.
Winners of the forthcoming league will later compete in the Mainland Union
league scheduled for next month.
The league is held on a rotational basis between Mainland and Zanzibar. The
Union league will be in May.
Arusha outshines Dar in lawn
tennis
By Burton Brown
Ramadhani Juma and Mussa Juma of Arusha were the stars in the Junior Lawn Tennis
competition over the weekend. Arusha silenced the hosts Dar es Salaam in most of
the games.
Held at Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club courts, the two players beat fellow Arusha
players in an all Arusha final in the under-18 doubles. The winners beat Joseph
Abraham and Onesmo Reuben 6-3, 6-3.
Ramadhani Mussa also shined in the under-18 singles, eliminating Onesmo Reuben
in two straight sets.
Dar es Salaam took the command in the under-14 when its player Fred Charles beat
Hamisi Omari of Arusha 6-3, 6-3.
In the under-14 doubles, Justine Joseph and Onesmo Reuben took the top title
after beating John Bauta and Maulid Awadh of Dar es Salaam in two straight sets.
Dar es Salaam’s girls were more successful. In the under-18 title chase, Mkunde
Iddi and Neema Mathayo, both from Dar es Salaam, reached the finals. Mathayo
beat Iddi 6-3, 6-3.
The competition featured 72 players from Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mororgoro.
Koffi arrives in Dar
By Angela Mazula
Congolese music star, Koffi Olomide arrived in Dar es Salaam
yesterday ahead of his gig to be held the at Diamond Jubilee Hall this Saturday.
Olomide has been invited to take part in the marking of the sixth year
anniversary of the Popular African Music Programme, Africa Bambataa aired daily
on Clouds FM.
Speaking to The Express Tuesday this week, Gerald Hando coordinator of the event
from Prime Times Promotion, said African Stars (Twanga Pepeta), a leading
neo-rumba band in Tanzania would warm up the public before Koffi Olomide’s
performance.
He added that Olomide will be accompanied by 24 artistes, six of them dancers.
Other artists to perform include Fally Ipopa, the band’s new star after Suzuki
Mamboni and Lobou Kabuya.
Also expected to come are veteran guitarists Akongo Diko Elenga, Mumba Demba
Felly Tyson, percussionist Nseka Jean and drummer Titina Mbuinga Al Capone who
was formerly with Wenger Musica BCBG.
back to headlines
Prisons, JKT
have EA handball meet in sight
By Joyce Macha
Tanzania handball giants Prisons (Magereza) and JKT are the main contenders for
the East African Handball Championship title due to take place in September.
The usual winners of the event that dates back to the 1970s, the two teams have
been training hard in readiness for the event which takes place for the first
time in September at Maji Maji Stadium, Songea in Ruvuma region.
“It has been our tradition to win the regional title and we have already started
training five months before the kick off,” said Twalib Twalib Chief Sports
Officer of Prisons.
Secretary General of Tanzania Handball Association (TAHA), Captain Sudi Omari,
said apart from the two teams competing with both men and women’s teams, the
third participant is Ngome which will also field two teams.
According to Sudi, the move to bring the tournament to Songea is part of the
campaigns by TAHA to motivate the growth of the sport nationwide.
Also, the maintenance of the National Indoor Stadium was another reason that
forced the organisers to shift the event outside Dar es Salaam.
Countries expected to feature in the tournament include Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda,
Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.