SINGIDA: THE National Bank of Commerce (NBC), the principal sponsor of the NBC Premier League, has played an instrumental role in the inauguration of the brand-new stadium of Singida Black Stars football club located in Singida Region.
Equally, the bank publicly declared its intention to invest further in the enhancement of stadiums utilized by various clubs that participate in the league.
As one of the key sponsors, NBC significantly contributed to the construction of this new facility, named Airtel Stadium, through a generous financial investment amounting to 50m/-.
The inauguration presided over by the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr Hamis Mwinjuma, saw the bank being represented by several prominent officials, including its Business Director Mr Elvis Ndunguru, Head of Public Relations and Communications Mr Godwin Semunyu, Head of Finance and Business Mr Joseph Lyuba, who also serves as the Chairman of the league committee within NBC. Additional representatives from NBC’s Singida branch were present to show their support.
In his address, Mr Mwinjuma extended heartfelt congratulations to Singida Black Stars on this remarkable achievement.
He also acknowledged the various stakeholders who supported the club, particularly praising the bank for its crucial role in the advancement of the sports sector in Tanzania, especially in football.
“The inauguration of the Singida Black Stars stadium marks a positive step towards reform within our sports sector, particularly in football, and I commend you all for this achievement. It is truly heartening to witness NBC’s involvement in this project, which continues to reflect their commitment to promoting sports development throughout our nation… thank you very much, NBC,” he pointed out.
Mr Ndunguru further elaborated on the bank’s strategic approach to upgrading stadium infrastructures, detailing that these initiatives are part of broader efforts to enhance the league. The efforts encompass providing transportation loans to clubs, offering health insurance to players and coaching staff, facilitating member registration processes, and delivering financial literacy education to participating clubs.
“Enhancing stadiums is our next agenda in sponsoring this league. We have already undertaken several initiatives in this regard, and it is evident that we need to invest more in this area. In addition to our investment in this stadium, where we contributed 50m/-, we have also supported improvements at other grounds, such as Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma, where we assisted in upgrading the irrigation system,” he pointed out.
In addition to stadium upgrades, Ndunguru emphasized the importance of clubs investing in electronic membership cards for their supporters. He noted that such measures would assist clubs in boosting their revenue streams while also maintaining accurate membership records.
Mr Lyuba discussed the strategies employed by the bank’s committee, emphasizing their commitment to enhancing and safeguarding the status of the league.
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He expressed substantial satisfaction with the league’s progress, particularly with regard to competitiveness among clubs, fan engagement, and the economic health of the involved clubs, which has facilitated the recruitment of talented players from both local and international markets.
Furthermore, Mr Semunyu expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts among various stakeholders in the league, including the government, clubs, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), the media, and fans.
He noted that this partnership significantly empowers NBC, as the main sponsor, to effectively fulfill its responsibilities and amplify its support for the league.
“We are encouraged by the strong engagement from all stakeholders, including the significant investments made by clubs like Singida Black Stars. This level of commitment attracts additional stakeholders’ involvement. The presence of government officials at events such as this serves as an additional motivating factor. I believe that as we progress, the situation will continue to improve,” remarked Semunyu, commending Singida Black Stars for their impactful initiative.
The inauguration festivities for the Airtel Stadium were highlighted by a friendly match between Singida Black Stars against Yanga SC. Unfortunately, the match had to be suspended midway through the second half due to heavy rainfall, with the score standing at 1-1.
