DODOMA: The Minister of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, has directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to formally write to Simba Sc regarding the destruction of 256 seats at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, emphasizing that the club must bear the costs of the damages.
In a statement issued on Monday by the ministry’s head of communications, outlined that Prof. Kabudi also ordered the Permanent Secretary and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to collaborate with the police to arrest fans responsible for the vandalism during Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup match.
He condemned the behavior, describing it as unacceptable and calling for strict measures to deter such acts in the future.
“The destruction that occurred at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium is unacceptable and contrary to the spirit of sportsmanship. I instruct the Permanent Secretary to take swift action. Write to Simba Sports Club and TFF, and ensure full collaboration with the police to arrest all those responsible for damaging and throwing the seats. Legal measures must be taken, and such behavior must be eliminated,” Prof. Kabudi stated.
The incident happened during Simba’s group stage match against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Simba.
According to the Dar es Salaam Special Zone’s Police statement released on Sunday, tensions escalated when CS Sfaxien fans protested the referee’s decision to allow over seven minutes of stoppage time.
During the additional time, Simba’s striker Kibu Denis sealed the win with a second goal in the 98th minute, having earlier scored the first.
In the protest, fans ripped out 256 stadium seats, causing significant demage to one of the country’s premier sports facilities.
Prof. Kabudi expressed his disappointment over the vandalism, highlighting its financial and reputational impact.
He urged fans attending matches at the stadium to respect public property, warning that such acts of destruction not only cause significant government losses but also undermine the stadium’s quality and standards.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability, warning that further incidents of vandalism would not be tolerated.
“These actions are a disgrace to the sport and will be met with the strongest possible measures,”he stated.
