by Philip Richards

Football

The government has confirmed it is currently prioritising construction and renovation of stadia ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 Finals which will be co-hosted by three East African states: Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. As a co-host, the national team Taifa Stars will automatically qualify for the finals which start in June 2027. New stadia are being constructed in Arusha and Dodoma, as well as the ongoing renovation of Benjamin Mkapa and Uhuru stadiums in Dar es Salaam. The Arusha stadium, proposed to be known as Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium is reported to be funded by a Tsh 286bn contract with China Railway Construction Engineering Group (see design drawing below).

Further, there is a wider push from central government to see the broader expansion of sports infrastructure across the country as part of a longer-term strategy to identify and develop sporting talent and enhance success for sport internationally. Such success has been sadly lacking in recent years. The government is encouraging local authorities to allocate budget for so called “recreation centres” which will include facilities for football, netball, basketball, Olympic-size swimming pools, and volleyball, to mention a few. (Daily News. April 2024).

Athletics
The decision of World Athletics (WA) to award gold medallists at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris a prize of US$ 50,000 will obviously be seen as a key motivator for all competing athletes to strive for success. This includes Tanzanian long distance athletes Alphonce Simbu, Gabriel Geay, Magdalena Shauri and Jackline Sakilu who have already secured qualifying marks for the Games that start this July. The decision is a historic one for the Olympics and breaks with 128 years of tradition by becoming the first sport to give Olympic competitors prize money. In the past, a medal was seen to be sufficient reward for the honour of participating (along with bonuses from local athletics bodies). Shauri is reported as suggesting the prize should be split three ways to recognise the efforts of silver and bronze medallists rather than them receiving nothing, though we understand that WA has confirmed a cash prize will be available to second and third placed athletes from the 2028 Games in Los Angeles USA. (The Citizen, April 12 2024)

Cricket
Cricket has long been a popular sport in Tanzania. It was reportedly first played in 1890 and moves are afoot to further grow the game in the country. In one example of UK-Tanzania collaboration, Leicestershire

County Cricket Club has been working with Dar Raptors Cricket Club in Dar es Salaam to aid the development of cricket in Tanzania’s largest city, donating cricket equipment and County Championship shirts to the junior club who were without kit for their training sessions. Founded in 2009, Dar Raptors have grown to a total of 250 boys and girls aged 9-15 now learning to play cricket at the club’s rural hub. 12 students have gone on to play for Tanzania’s Under 19 national team, with Kurtik Thakkar one of the team’s headline success stories. However, the struggle to find funding and equipment has been a perpetual battle for the club.

Osman Bairu, Founder of Dar Raptors Cricket Club, said: “We are so grateful to Leicestershire for supporting us in our development as a club.

“Our boys and girls are from poor families and we lack cricket gear. Here in Tanzania, equipment is very expensive and not everyone can afford it, but they are very keen to learn the game. We are proud to sport Leicestershire shirts and have been following the Club’s progress through social media.” (Source: Leicestershire CCC)