The government’s efforts to unearth a new generation of sports stars received a timely boost yesterday, when Swansea City striker Wilfred Bony promised to construct an ultra-modern sports academy in the country.
The Ivorian, who arrived in the country yesterday for a four-day tour at the invitation Uzalendo Kwanza Company, has described Tanzania as a country with unquantifiable passion for football.
He said Tanzania is endowed with many gifted youngsters who only need grooming and exposure to excel internationally.
“I foresee Tanzania as a bedrock for the development of the game in Africa,” Bony, who played for Cote d’Ivoire’s Les Elephants against Taifa Stars a few years ago, said.
“However, infrastructure and stability are needed to make this happen,’’ he added.
Speaking at the same occasion, Fahad Ali, an official from Asas Diaries Limited, co-sponsors of the England-based player’s tour, said they are proud to be associated with promotion of sports in the country.
“We want to take the development of football in Tanzania very seriously,” he said.
For his part, Uzalendo Kwanza chairman Steve Mengele, popularly known as Steve Nyerere, said they plan to invite many famous players who are interested in investing in sports, music and film.
This comes a few months after the government announced that plans were on for the country to construct an-ultra modern stadium in Dodoma.
It revealed this is after King Mohamed VI of Morocco met with President John Magufuli.
DrMagufuli confirmed that the planned stadium would be the biggest in the country.
Currently, many international matches take place at the 60,000-seater National Stadium and CCM Kirumba in Mwanza, which is a 35,000-seater venue.
The construction of the state-of-the-art stadium will help improve the sports sector, especially football, in the East African region.
