Swimming body to raise Sh71m for Canada feat

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) has formed a special committee to source sponsorship  for the national swimming team that will feature at the International Swimming Federation (Fina)’s  13th World Championship scheduled to take place in Windsor, Canada between December 6 and 11 this year.

TSA needs Sh71 million to cover the cost of eight swimmers and one coach. Three swimmers out of 11 will be paid by Fina.

The committee includes the Secretary General of Dar Swim Club (DSC), Inviolata Itatiro, Hamisi Mhini and Geetha Prashant while the fund-raising committee is under Amina Mfaume who is TSA’s technical director, Asma Hilal and TSA Director of Finance Phillip Saliboko.

The body has already selected the 11 swimmers. The   swimmers are Hilal Hemed, Aliasghar Karimjee, Ammaar Ghadiyali, Denis Mhini, Adil Bharmal, and Joseph Sumari who will feature in men’s category event.

Female swimmers are Catherine Mason, Sylvia Caroiao, Sonia Tumiotto, Mariam Foum and Magdalena Moshi.

Ms Itatiro said Tanzania has proven that there is bright future for the sport following Hemed’s Moshi’s performance at the Olympic Games just ended in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“We need to support the swimmers through international exposure,” she said.

Ms Itatiro added:  “We need to show our commitment for swiming through the participation of everybody in order to meet our goal. We accept any contribution from any institution to meet the target, it is time to make things happen and develop the sport.”

In addition to asking for funds the committee is planning to conduct activities like swimming family dinner nights, swimathons, t-shirt events, a carnival and swimmers clinic to raise money.

  “We are kindly requesting the general public to support team Tanzania including business people, corporations, the government, family members and friends and all sports lovers,” she said.