Nyamagana District Commissioner Baraka Konisaga inspects teams as he launched the Airtel Rising Stars regional tournament in Mwanza yesterday. PHOTO | courtesy of organisers.
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Nyamagana DC challenges the MZFA to make better use of the tournament to identify talented players
Mwanza. Nyamagana District Commissioner Baraka Konisaga has reiterated the significance of youth football programmes and called on aspiring starlets to understand that they have the obligation to help the country snap mediocrity on the international stage.
Opening the U-17 Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) regional tournament at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza yesterday, Konisaga said he believed that the lake zone region is endowed with talents and that explains why Mwanza boys lifted the Airtel Rising Stars champions’ trophy at the national finals in Dar es Salaam in 2013.
He challenged the Mwanza Football Association (MZFA) officials to make better use of the tournament to identify talented players.
Mwanza made a mark in the country’s soccer history in the 1980s when Pamba FC, through the likes of Joram Mwakatika, Madata Lubigisa, John Mhina, Beya Simba, Raphael Paul, to name a few, were a force to reckon with in the First Division League.
Konisaga showered praise on the telecommunication company for its initiative to set aside part of its resources to be used for the development of youth football.
He said the tournament provides a good platform to ease identification of football talents and urged football officials to make better use of it.
He said apart from being used for identification of football talents, the youth programme also promotes active lifestyles among the participating boys and girls. He said an active lifestyle enables the starlets to maintain good health that makes it possible for the players to catch up with their school curriculums.
He told the youthful players that by excelling in football they will be creating a reliable employment for themselves.
“Soccer provides employment for millions of players and officials across the world. They live luxuriously because they are well paid,” he said and inspired the boys to aim high.
For his part, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) chairman of youth committee Ayoub Nyenzi asked MZFA officials to adhere to the tournament’s rules especially the age limit.
MZFA chairman Jackson Songora sounded confident that the region has talented boys and girls to win the titles this year. Speaking at the same occasion, Airtel Tanzania regional marketing officer Emmanuel Raphael thanked all football stakeholders for according Airtel Rising Stars championship top priority.
