Tanzania: Kotoko, Hearts of Oak to Play in Dar Es Salaam

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

23 June 2011

TANZANIA football bigwigs Simba and Young Africans will play host to Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak from Ghana in a two-day international scheduled to be held at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam over the weekend of July 16-17, this year.

The high profile football event, dubbed Tanzania International Cup, has been organized jointly by two South African sports marketing firms Lumuli Marketing and Octagon.

Speaking at a press conference in Dar es Salaam on Thursday to officially announce the tournament, the companies Chief Executive Officer Sidwell Jan and Account Director Bonga Sebesho said all the four clubs have confirmed their participation.

“This tournament creates a unique platform for all the participating clubs to showcase their football skills, give their players more experience, exposure, as well as winning themselves trophies, medals and honour,” said Jan and called on Tanzania soccer fans to expect lots of excitement out of it.

“Each year the organizers are committed to invite only top clubs with pedigree and history in their countries and on the continent.

This, it is hoped that will assist the Tanzania clubs to better equip themselves to playing with the best players and coaches on the continent,” he added.

On his part, Sebesho said the tournament will be a spectacular bonanza, involving music, exciting promotional competitions that will see fans winning themselves various prizes.

He said as and ongoing legacy project, part of the earning from ticket sakes will be directed to selected primary schools across the country. The entrance fee ha been pegged at US 10 dollars (about 15,000/-).

“The schools will receive brand new computers and sport kits,” he said, adding; “In a bid to ensure live coverage of all the matches, we have appointed the national media, TBC1 and TBC Taifa to be the official partners in this venture.”

The Tanzania International Cup is set to be staged in the country for the first time but according the organizers, the plan is make the event an annual competition embracing big football clubs from African countries.

The Press conference was also attended by Simba vice-chairman Godfrey Nyange ‘Kaburu’ while Yanga were represented by a member of the club’s Finance and Economy committee, Isaack Mhavile.

The two officials expressed their delight to be involved in the championship and vowed to take it seriously as it will give their players valuable experience. They both oozed confidence that they will win the championship.

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