TOC faces backlash over Simbu disqualification
DODOMA: RENOWNED athlete Alphonce Simbu was unexpectedly disqualified from the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) elections for the Players’ Commission Chairmanship, held in Dodoma on December 8.
The decision, announced by Election Supervisor and TOC Vice–President, Henry Tandau, has sparked widespread criticism from sports stakeholders.
Tandau accused Simbu of being a ‘rebel’ for allegedly inciting athletes to boycott Asics branded kits during the Paris Olympics (July 26–August 11), choosing instead to wear Xtep kits provided by the Athletics Tanzania Federation (AT).
Simbu, when contacted by the Daily News for clarification, declined the interview, stating he had the right to remain silent as an aggrieved party.
The disqualification, which took place publicly in front of voters, shocked Simbu, who was unaware of the decision until he arrived to seek votes.
ALSO READ: TOC announces election for Tanzania Olympians Association
“I followed all the procedures, collected, completed filling and submitted the nomination forms. Even during the screening, I was questioned about this issue and I clarified that I had no authority to decide what kits athletes wear.
“Team kits are registered by officials. When we arrived in Paris, the registered kits were Xtep, which were approved by event supervisors. Where is my rebellion? This is personal vendetta,” Simbu said. Simbu also questioned why he was not informed of his disqualification in advance, calling the move “unprofessional”, accusing Tandau of misusing his power.
“Tandau himself, as team leader in Paris, told the media on July 25 that all kit registration procedures were complete. Why was Xtep approved for use in Paris and how does this become my fault?” he questioned.
The incident has drawn widespread blame, including from AT Acting Secretary General Jackson Ndaweka, who described the disqualification as “unethical and a violation of the Olympic spirit. An athlete of Simbu’s caliber should be celebrated, not humiliated. The Olympic Movement prioritizes athletes, yet here we see officials consumed by power acting against this principle,” said Ndaweka.
He emphasised Simbu’s impressive achievements, including his fourth-place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships in London, a fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
He also won gold at the 2023 World Military Games and the 2024 African Military Games. “No Tanzanian athlete in this generation has achieved more for the country in international competitions than Simbu. This incident discourages athletes and tarnishes the image of our sports administration,” Ndaweka lamented.
The controversy follows long-standing tensions between TOC and the RT over kit sponsorships, which escalated before the Paris Olympics. Despite TOC’s preference for Asics, RT’s Xtep kits were ultimately used. Some stakeholders believe this dispute, coupled with political rivalries within TOC, may have influenced Simbu’s disqualification.
Xtep Group, a leading sports brand from China, provided the kits for the event. Simbu’s rise to prominence coincided with Anthony Mtaka’s presidency at RT, who is a declared candidate for the TOC presidency and a strong challenger to Tandau. This has led to speculation that Simbu’s disqualification could be politically motivated.
Sports stakeholders have vowed to hold accountable those responsible for undermining Simbu’s rights and are calling for reforms to ensure fair treatment of athletes and transparency in sports governance.
