From MARC NKWAME in Arusha, 19th May 2011 @ 12:00
MORE than 1,000 local students from various schools in Arusha had a chance to play American football alongside teams from the United States and Mexico that have just jetted in town for the ‘Global Kilimanjaro Bowl’ event.
“It is a dream come true, imagine three different nationalities, USA, Mexico and Tanzania brought together by the American football, this is more than just sports, this is a cultural melting pot and we are proud of this,” said Patrick Steenberge, the President of Global Football, the organisers of the event.
He stated that before and after the Kilimanjaro Bowl, scheduled for next Saturday Afternoon at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha, players from both teams, along with coaches and staff, are going to make a difference in Tanzania.
“We have already conducted the first youth football clinics at the TGT grounds in Burka, these training sessions will go on for two days; Thursday and Friday before we move to the town stadium for the actual game on Saturday,” said Steenberge.
The Drake University team will play in the first-ever American-style football game in Africa against the CONADEIP All-Stars from Mexico in the inaugural Global Kilimanjaro Bowl, a game that kicks off at about 1.00 pm that Saturday afternoon and climax at 4.30.
Reflecting the stadium event the two teams will also compete on scaling Mount Kilimanjaro using different routes on their trekking expedition.
They will rendezvous at the summit with each squad staking its respective nation’s flag at the peak.
“This is just incredible, from the moment we landed at the Kilimanjaro Airport the air was charged with anticipation, it is indeed a dream come true,” Drake head coach Chris Creighton said, adding that the event is worth the amount of work that so many people have done to accomplish.
The delegation of 195 people landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport aboard the Royal Dutch Airline (KLM) at about 11.00 pm, on Wednesday night. They will spend an entire week in Tanzania.
The teams will also work on building projects for local orphanages in Moshi from next Sunday and Monday before embarking on a five-day Mount Kilimanjaro climbing expedition where they intend to raise flags from US, Mexico and Drake University.
In between their itinerary the delegation will also visit the Tarangire National park. The head coach Chris Creighton adds; “I truly believe the service projects will be the best part of the entire trip, for a lot of reasons,” he said.
“We’re all people, but when you’re in a different culture and people do things differently, it has a chance to rock your world.”
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Mkapa: ‘I do not hate sports’
By NELLY MTEMA, 7th May 2011 @ 12:37, Daily News
WINNER of 2010 Sports Hall of Fame, Retired President Benjamin Mkapa, expressed his love for sports, but said his third phase government had limited options and could not put much thrust in developing the sector especially in its first phase.
But, the former head of state said sports was given much attention during his second term.
Mkapa made the remarks on Friday night at the TASWA 2010 Sports Personality Awards, where he was declared the 2010 Sports Hall of Fame winner, in recognition of his efforts that made it possible for the construction of the-state-of-the art National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
He was presented with the honour by the Vice- President, Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal, who was the chief guest. Mkapa who stole the show organised by the Tanzania Sports Writers Association (TASWA), amid deafening applause and cheers from the crowd, however, dedicated the win to the then third phase government Minister for Sports, Juma Kapuya and President Jakaya Kikwete, who by then was the Foreign Minister.
For, he said, the two contributed immensely to the construction of the magnificent stadium. He said if it were not for Kapuya’s encouragement and Kikwete’s negotiation power with the Chinese government, he could not make the decision taking into account the country’s economic status.
“The two were very instrumental for the project to come true. They should be acknowledged and recognised,’’ he said. And, Mkapa insisted that though he never attended any match
during his first term in office, he has always been a passionate sports lover.
“I am aware that many regard me as an anti-sports character person, but the truth is that the country’s economy by then was in bad shape, ‘Ukapa’. Tanzania being among the highly indebted countries, I had to give sports the least prominence during my first term, while setting priorities in revitalising our economy,” he said.
He said during his second term, things slightly improved, but said still much focus was directed towards implementing Primary Education development programme (MMEM) and Secondary Education Development programme (MMES) and sports was not given its due attention.
Mkapa challenged the Tanzanians to take good care of the infrastructure whose construction cost was equally shared by the Chinese and Tanzania governments. “I thank you for recognizing my contribution towards sports, since it has cash rewards, the only wish I make is to take good care of the facility because it is one of the country’s landmark,” said Mkapa.
Bilal said the 60,000-seater stadium has opened opportunity for the country, where a number of competitions, local, continental and international have been hosted at the facility.
He said the country needs to open up more such facilities, saying it is an avenue where employment can be generated if only athletes work hard.
Bilal also awarded Mwanaidi Hassan, who for a second year in a row emerged the Sports Personality of year. She walked away with a car, DTSV decoder-full paid for three months, a national parks trip and cash. Others who won the awards are Lilian Sylidion-Filbert Bayi
(upcoming), Hasheem Thabeet (Foreign based local player), Emmanuel Okwi (foreign player).
In athletics the winners are Marco Joseph (men) and Mary Naali (women), Kevin Peter (volleyball-men) and Hellen Mwegoha (volleyball-women), Mwanaidi Hassan (Netball), George Otto Tarimo (basketball-men) and Faraja Malaki (basketball-women), Shadrack Nsajigwa (soccer-men) and Asha Rashid (soccer-women).
The list also includes Karama Nyilawila (professional boxing), Selemani Kidunda (amateur boxing), Hamis Clement (cyclingmen) and Sophia Anderson (cycling-women), Kassim Nassor
(cricket-men) and Mariam Said (cricket-women), Masoud Amour Kombo (judo), Hawa Wanyenche (golf-women) and Frank Roman (golf-men).
WINNER of 2010 Sports Hall of Fame, Retired President Benjamin Mkapa, expressed his love for sports, but said his third phase government had limited options and could not put much thrust in developing the sector especially in its first phase.
But, the former head of state said sports was given much attention during his second term.
Mkapa made the remarks on Friday night at the TASWA 2010 Sports Personality Awards, where he was declared the 2010 Sports Hall of Fame winner, in recognition of his efforts that made it possible for the construction of the-state-of-the art National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
He was presented with the honour by the Vice- President, Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal, who was the chief guest. Mkapa who stole the show organised by the Tanzania Sports Writers Association (TASWA), amid deafening applause and cheers from the crowd, however, dedicated the win to the then third phase government Minister for Sports, Juma Kapuya and President Jakaya Kikwete, who by then was the Foreign Minister.
For, he said, the two contributed immensely to the construction of the magnificent stadium. He said if it were not for Kapuya’s encouragement and Kikwete’s negotiation power with the Chinese government, he could not make the decision taking into account the country’s economic status.
“The two were very instrumental for the project to come true. They should be acknowledged and recognised,’’ he said. And, Mkapa insisted that though he never attended any match
during his first term in office, he has always been a passionate sports lover.
“I am aware that many regard me as an anti-sports character person, but the truth is that the country’s economy by then was in bad shape, ‘Ukapa’. Tanzania being among the highly indebted countries, I had to give sports the least prominence during my first term, while setting priorities in revitalising our economy,” he said.
He said during his second term, things slightly improved, but said still much focus was directed towards implementing Primary Education development programme (MMEM) and Secondary Education Development programme (MMES) and sports was not given its due attention.
Mkapa challenged the Tanzanians to take good care of the infrastructure whose construction cost was equally shared by the Chinese and Tanzania governments. “I thank you for recognizing my contribution towards sports, since it has cash rewards, the only wish I make is to take good care of the facility because it is one of the country’s landmark,” said Mkapa.
Bilal said the 60,000-seater stadium has opened opportunity for the country, where a number of competitions, local, continental and international have been hosted at the facility.
He said the country needs to open up more such facilities, saying it is an avenue where employment can be generated if only athletes work hard.
Bilal also awarded Mwanaidi Hassan, who for a second year in a row emerged the Sports Personality of year. She walked away with a car, DTSV decoder-full paid for three months, a national parks trip and cash. Others who won the awards are Lilian Sylidion-Filbert Bayi
(upcoming), Hasheem Thabeet (Foreign based local player), Emmanuel Okwi (foreign player).
In athletics the winners are Marco Joseph (men) and Mary Naali (women), Kevin Peter (volleyball-men) and Hellen Mwegoha (volleyball-women), Mwanaidi Hassan (Netball), George Otto Tarimo (basketball-men) and Faraja Malaki (basketball-women), Shadrack Nsajigwa (soccer-men) and Asha Rashid (soccer-women).
The list also includes Karama Nyilawila (professional boxing), Selemani Kidunda (amateur boxing), Hamis Clement (cyclingmen) and Sophia Anderson (cycling-women), Kassim Nassor
(cricket-men) and Mariam Said (cricket-women), Masoud Amour Kombo (judo), Hawa Wanyenche (golf-women) and Frank Roman (golf-men).
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