TODAY, 24 years after Mwalimu Julius Nyerere departed, the sports fraternity clearly understands his campaign for peace and unity because no sport can be played on a battlefield.
In commemorating Nyerere Day and walk the talk, sports associations, federations and unions countrywide are beehives of sporting activities to mark 24 years since the Father of the Nation’s passing on.
While the National Basketball League (NBL) takes the country’s Capital City Dodoma by storm, as the giants set to face each other in today’s final, Kilimanjaro Region will be the centre of the stage with top different sports discipline battle.
At Chinangali venue in Dodoma, Dar es Salaam armies’ giants ABC and JKT will challenge each other for this year’s title in the men’s final showdown.
ABC avenged their Dar es Salaam Basketball League (BDL) mistake to beat new BDL men’s champions Dar City 63-49 to advance to finals.
In other semifinals JKT who finished this year’s BDL second behind champions Dar City, also advanced through a 60-54 victory over Kisasa Heroes in the annual league organised by the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF).
Basketball fans should be eagerly wait for the final of its kind, as the two teams battle it out for the place to represent Tanzania at the elite Basketball Africa League (BAL).
In the women’s category, it will be Dar Champions – Vijana Queens against Mara’s side, Fix Divas.
Defending champions Vijana Queens maintain their supremacy in the national-level event with an impressive 60-44 semifinal victory over hosts DB Pantellini.
Fox Divas had to endure a stiff challenge from Pazi Queens from Dar es Salaam to beat them by 57-41 and follow Vijana Queens into today’s finals.
At Hindu Mandal ground in Moshi, four men’s and women’s teams were in action yesterday for today’s Nyerere Volleyball Memorial Cup finals.
Magereza were in action against APR of Rwanda in the first semi-final before Rukinzo of Burundi took on Police in the men’s category.
APR went through on the hands of Mipango, Police ousted hosts Kilimagnet, while Rukinzo and Magereza ousted Pentagon of Arusha and Jeshi Stars of Dar es Salaam in the quarters battle, respectively.
Women’s Friday semi-final action was Jeshi Stars vs RRA of Rwanda and Magereza vs APR as the battle for today’s final.
Men’s and women’s teams from Rwanda, Burundi and hosts Tanzania are listed for the 2023 Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Volleyball tournament.
While at the TPC Moshi club course, the Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC) professional golfer Nuru Mollel will commemorate Nyerere Day with the TPC Open pros title, as over 80 amateurs across the country tee off for the 36 holes national title.
Mollel impressive carded an aggregate of 5-under 139 (69,70) over two rounds to beat over 15 pros across the country to the top prize.
He beat his closest challenger club-mate Elisante Lembris by two shots and finished second with an aggregate 3-under 141 (70,71), and third place went to Kili Golf also of Arusha player Isaac Wanyeche who carded level 144 (72,72).
The ongoing TPC Open tournament is among the sporting activities, also honouring Mwalimu Nyerere.
Six teams are also engaged in a fierce chase for this year’s Nyerere Hockey title that officially started yesterday at Sikh Community ground in Moshi.
Hosts Moshi Khalsas last year’s finalist was the first to record a victory with a narrow 1-0 over Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) in a group B opening. Before Zanzibar Nyuki and Kili Vijanas of Moshi went 2-2 all draw in Group A opening match.
The three-day tournament climaxes tomorrow at the venue.
The tournament has been jointly organised by the Moshi Sikh Club and Tanzania Hockey Association (THA) under the sponsorship of the Sikh Community of Moshi, according to THA Chairman, Kaushiki Doshi.
He said six confirmed teams have been pooled into two groups A and B.
Group A teams are: – Kili Vijanas of Moshi, Zanzibar Nyuki and Arusha Twigas, while group B consists of Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) of Dar es Salaam, Tanga Stars and hosts Moshi Khalsas.
The tournament battle rages today from 8:00 am when TPDF play Tanga Stars, and then Zanzibar Nyuki will lock horns with Arusha Twigas for the semis place.
Hockey legend, Tarlochan Singh Sandhu salutes the association for organising such an event to honour Mwalimu Nyerere.
The Canada-based Sandhu told the ‘Daily News’ that sports build commitment to the youth, discipline, teamwork, respect and well-being for all, which was embraced by Nyerere.
“Mwalimu Nyerere taught us all that, and that is why Tanzania is the best country in the world with all living peacefully and happily!
“I complement THA to honor the Father of the Nation. As a past Tanzania hockey captain and sports official, I convey a sincere appreciation to all for supporting the youth and sports. Special acknowledgement of our inspiring President Samia Hassan for motivating the players that have seen Simba, Yanga and Taifa Stars leading in football across the continent,” Sandhu said.
One of the most important things that Nyerere had always campaigned for and engineered was the issue of peace and unity which Tanzanians are maintaining and sports play a big role.
