The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
17 March 2011
Dar Es Salaam — Tennis enthusiasts in Mwanza have a reason to smile about as the African Barrick Gold Company plan to construct four courts, a move meant to promote the less-fancied sport in the region.
Mwanza, the city of approximately three million dwellers, has been lagging behind in tennis, but the launch of the Sh 20 million project means things will never be the same again.Speaking at a brief but colourful launch ceremony yesterday, Barrick’s internal communication officer Blandina Mungezi said the company was keen on reviving the sport, which was increasingly tumbling.
“Our plan is to help uplift the standard of the sport in the country, we’ve started with Mwanza, but a few other regions will also benefit from our support, ” she said.
According to the information officer, the Sh 20 million would have a “double impact”, to construct the courts and search for young gifted players in the lake zone. On his part, Boaz Mwakyusya, a tennis coach from the Tanzania Tennis Association (TTA), said the body has made tremendous efforts to popularise the sport in the country and thanked Barrick for the support.
“From our experience, the best tennis players come from the upcountry regions, thus Mwanza will once again be our big centre where the finest talents will be obtained,” he said.
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