Nyerere’s legacy in sport lives on

DAR ES SALAAM: FOOTBALL icons in Tanzania have paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, for laying the foundation for sports development through his vision and efforts in building infrastructure across the country.

Speaking to ‘Daily News’, veteran footballers Zamoyoni Mogella and Steven Nemesi said it’s difficult to find a region in Tanzania without a sports facility linked to Nyerere’s leadership.

“You can’t talk about sports in Tanzania without mentioning Mwalimu Nyerere, and you can’t talk about stadiums without recognising his role,” said Mogella.

“He made sure grounds were built in schools, towns and at national level.”

Mogella said one of Nyerere’s key contributions was establishing school playgrounds, which became spaces for identifying young talent.

“Mwalimu built schools across the country, each with a playground that got youths involved in sports,” he noted.

He added that Nyerere also encouraged the formation of teams within public institutions, which helped develop players for national football.

“Every public institution and factory had a team and that’s how Tanzania produced many of its top players,” said Mogella.

He added: “What Nyerere built still exists today in some form. These strong workplace teams developed players like me, Boniface Mkwasa, Hussein Ngurungu and many others. We all came from the Tobacco team.”

He also mentioned corporate teams such as Moro United, Tumbaku FC and Reli FC, which were once prominent in Tanzanian football.

“Each region had teams like Kilitex, Pamba and others all emerging from Nyerere’s policy of linking work and sport,” he said.

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Mogella noted that during Nyerere’s time, sports were also a way to get employed.

“If you had talent, you’d get a job. Unlike today, when players go through academies, trials and so many steps,” he said.

Veteran Nemesi shared similar views, crediting Nyerere with setting up a structure that later leaders continued to develop.

“Nyerere built more stadiums than any leader in our history. Those who followed built on what he started,” said Nemesi.

He pointed to stadiums in Tanga, Mbeya, Tabora, Mwanza, and the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam as facilities still in use today. Nemesi said one challenge back then was the lack of trained coaches.

“In those days, only clubs like Simba and Yanga had coaches. Most of us learned by playing, football was about passion, not pay,” he said.

He added that while Nyerere was focused on many sectors, his role in shaping sports is still clear.

“He didn’t do everything in sports, but the structure he left behind still holds,” Nemesi said.

“Inter-school competitions and corporate teams were among his biggest contributions. They helped nurture young talent and build the sport from the ground up.”