Kinje
smells victory in Iringa this weekend
By Joyce Macha
After narrowly missing the second position in the Zantel Rally, the
Dar es Salaam based driver, Kinje Ngombale Mwiru is all set for a victory in the
fourth National Rally Championship penned for a kick off in Iringa this weekend.
Kinje, a Stado Rally team member, told The Express that he was all set to
compete in Iringa which he claimed to be the suitable venue for his intended
clean victory.
"I want to use the Iringa Rally to settle the score for the disrupted win I
faced in Zanzibar a month ago,” he said.
This weekend’s rally predicts a fierce battle; three more new cars are to join
the race in the small Southern Highlands town.
Saleh Balhabou who ended second overall in Tanga will now compete in a Subaru
Impreza joining his Stado team mates, Pano Calavria, Omar Bakhressa, Sameer
Nahdi Shanto and Ahmed Huwel.
"If I managed to win second position in Tanga with an old Land Rover, I feel
that no one can beat me when I’m in a Subaru," said Balhabou at his home town
Morogoro.
Salim Haji will introduce his super fast Mitsubishi Evo 7 in Iringa this
weekend. Haji said his second position in Zanzibar opened the doors for him and
warned his adversaries of even more heroic driving in Iringa.
"I am one of the youngest drivers in the rally, but the fastest of all. That’s
why they call me Bullet," boasted young Salim.
Motor sports enthusiasts said this year’s edition of the Iringa rally would
provide all needed excitements. The region’s road safety is the best in
Tanzania.
Drivers from six motor clubs of Tanzania have so far confirmed to participate in
the event, whose official flag off is Saturday evening at Samora Machel Memorial
Stadium in the heart of Iringa town.
Serengeti Boys
to Gambia against all odds tomorrow
By Express Reporter
Uncertainty still surrounds the fate of Tanzania’s under-17 national
football team, the Serengeti Boys, following the decision to send the team to
the African Youth Championship finals which kick off this weekend in Banjul,
Gambia.
Serengeti Boys were disqualified to take part in the finals for fielding an
over-aged player in the qualifying rounds.
Tanzania Football Federation announced this week that the team are expected to
leave for Gambia tomorrow (Friday) prior to the ruling by the Court of
Arbitration for Sports (CAS). TFF filed a complaint to CAS but has yet to hear
if its appeal will be accepted or not.
TFF President, Leodegar Tenga told reporters this week that the team would
travel to Banjul and wait for the results there.
He said a squad of 19 players and six officials were expecting to leave Dar for
Gambia.
Players who will make the trip are: Eric John, Godson Mmassa, Ahmed Haidar,
Jumanne Ramadhani, Juma Jabu, Hassan Bwaza, Athumani Idd, Julius Mrope, Seba
Mohamed, Nizar Khalfani, Amir Maftaha, Ahmad Darusi, Abdilah Seng'ondo, Maulid
Talik, Adam Matunga, Mohamed Juma, Mwinyi Makungu, Emmanuel Chama and Mrisho
Ngassa.
Officials who will make the trip are: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Labour, Youth Development and Sports, Abubakar Rajabu; TFF First Vice President
Crescentius Magori; Ahmed Mgoyi (team manager); Juma Sufiani (physician);
Abdallah Kibadeni (Head Coach) and Sylvester Marsh (Assistant Coach).
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned Tanzania early this year from
competing in African Youth Championship finals accusing the team for letting
Nurdin Bakari on the pitch despite being over 17 years.
The ban also saw Tanzania barred from taking part in all age-category events
organized by CAF for two years.
Tanzania was replaced with Zimbabwe in the finals. Zimbabwe lost to Tanzania in
both home and away matches.
Rhinos star in
May Day Rugby meet
By Express reporter
As the handpicked squad of Tanzania National Rugby Team is set to
start residential training camp in Arusha this weekend, the two-day May Day
tournament held in Arusha over the weekend, produced many new talents to play
for the team in future.
The tournament attracted both prominent and upcoming teams staged as a
pre-national team camp event.
“We are sure to have some of these new players in the team in the near future.
They have made certain that rugby is fast advancing in Tanzania at present,”
remarked Tinus Aucamp, National Rugby Team Manager and Coach.
Arusha Rhinos A beat their B side 35-5 to clinch the title in a thrilling
encounter at Braeburn School, Arusha.
John Lloyd opened the score for the winners in the first quarter when dived for
a try at his opponents’ goal.
The second try for the winners was converted by Tom Halloran before Mike Beckner
and Chris Parker added more points to the score sheet.
Arusha B team scored a consolation try through Mathew Mbando.
Dar es Salaam Leopards Development also took part in the tournament. They played
two matches including an encounter against Arusha veteran team.
“Dar Leopards team displayed good rugby throughout the tournament and I hope it
will be a team of great potential in the near future,” said Tinus Aucamp.
Kikwete graces
Queen Relay Baton
By Burton Brown
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Jakaya
Kikwete will grace the Queen Relay Baton Race on June 11 at Mnazi Mmoja Ground,
Dar es Salaam.
Secretary General of Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC), Filbert Bayi told The
Express this week that after the Minister’s launch, the baton relay would take
place in various streets of Dar es Salaam.
According to Bayi, after completing the street race, the baton will be presented
to President Benjamin Mkapa at the State House.
He said the baton goes under the name ‘Good Health Through Sports’. It is run in
all country members of the Commonwealth ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
The next Club Games, according to Bayi will take place in Melbourne Australia in
2006. He said 71 countries are expected to participate with Tanzania being among
the countries.
The Commonwealth Games began in 1930 under the name of the Empire Games and
Tanzania began to send participants to the games in 1962, just a year after
independence.
Former Olympian, Mwinga Mwanjara will lead veteran athletes in the race.
Don Bosco can’t wait for next
year’s basketball league
By Burton Brown
After their spectacular performance in the just ended Union Basketball League,
the newly formed Don Bosco Ladies Basketball Team said they were now sure to
clinch the title in the next year’s edition of the league.
Assembled in just two weeks, the Don Bosco team stunned basketball giants when
they beat JKT Stars in the league, while narrowly losing to the league winners,
Jeshi Stars.
The team captain, Amina Ahmed said her team had all qualities of a big
basketball team.
“The commitment of the players and determination assure me of a top position in
next year’s league. By then we will be strongly fortified as a team,” she said.
Don Bosco beat JKT 66-59 at the National Indoor Stadium, Amina Ahmed scoring 33
points for the team’s total 66. Ahmed was the best scorer in the league.
This year’s Union League fielded ten teams, seven men’s teams and three women’s
sides.
Savio emerged the winners in the men’s side after beating JKT 61-54 in the
final.
Fununa Yasini of Jeshi Stars was named the best player of the league while in
the men’s discipline Jije Makani of Savio took the title.
Netball – an old girls’ sport,
says Betty Mkwasa
By Burton Brown
The government’s action to bar sports in secondary and primary
schools has retarded the development of netball in Tanzania, according to Betty
Mkwasa, Vice Chairman of Tanzania Netball Association (CHANETA).
Once, the second biggest sport in popularity, netball has lost its former
stronghold in Tanzania forcing girls and women to opt for other sports, said
Mkwasa during the prize giving ceremony of the winners of the first division
netball league held over the weekend at Railway Gerezani court in Dar es Salaam,
Mkwasa said since the government banned all sporting events in schools, schools
have failed to produce new talents. The sport remains with overage players, a
majority of them in their thirties.
She said the majority of the key players in the big teams have been appearing in
big national events since the 1980s and they are still active today.
“We request the government to reverse the decision and allow the Inter Primary
School and Secondary School games to resume,” she said.
In another development, Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education,
Dr. Pius Ng’wandu said government’s sponsorship was open to sportsmen and women
wishing to study sports courses in foreign institutions.
“Our government values sports, that’s why it is ready to assist any sportsman
and woman who acquires a scholarship to study sports courses overseas,” he
clarified.
During that function, Dr. Ng’wandu concluded by saying the government did not
ban sports in the schools, but insisted that sports events should not interfere
with schools’ academic timetables.
Cereals star
in handball debut
By Burton Brown
Kenya’s Cereals Women team had a good start in the Neighbourhood
Handball tournament when they beat Dar Stars of Tanzania 27-8 in a one-side
encounter held on Tuesday at the National Indoor Stadium, Dar es Salaam.
The winners were leading 12-3 at half time.
Dar Stars defenders were to blame for the defeat as they allowed many did gaps
in the goal that opened easy scoring opportunities for the visitors.
Grace Madegwa was the star of the match, scoring 10 goals.
Her young sister, Sheila Madegwa fought closely behind making her second best
scorer with 7 goals.
Dar Stars scored their goals through Ghati Mseti, who bagged 3 goals while her
team mate Eliza Angetile also scored 3 goals.
The second match between Cereals Men team from Kenya and Dar Stars of Dar es
Salaam failed to kick off due to a power cut at stadium.
Other countries in Dar es Salaam for the inaugural tournament are Congo DRC and
Zanzibar.
Runners prepare in Arusha
By Joyce Macha, Arusha
Africa’s 800m stars Samwel Mwera and Lwiza John have started
intensive training in Arusha in preparation for various international missions
in Brazil and Kenya beginning May 15 this year.
Mwera who won gold in the All Africa Games and bronze in the Afro Asian Games
held in India told The Express that he was preparing for the International
Amateur Athletics Federations (IAAF) Grand Prix race in Brazil beginning May 15.
Also a bronze medallist in the All African Games and gold medallist in the Afro
Asian Games, Lwiza said she was training for the Kenyan Free Race to be held in
Nairobi, before advancing for the world championship race in France later next
month.
In another development, Tanzania’s national athletics team will field 20
athletes in the Under 17 Zone Five athletics championship in Arusha from May 9
to 11.
Secretary General of the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association (TAAA), Juma
Ikangaa said that preparations for the event, to be held at the Sheikh Amri
Abeid Memorial Stadium, are almost complete.