Karatu District Commissioner (DC), Daud Mtibenda, has ordered people who have invaded open spaces to return them as soon as possible so that youths can get playgrounds.
The DC issued the order when closing the 12th Karatu Sports and Cultural Festival at the Mazingira Bora Stadium here over the weekend.
The festival which is held annually was organised by Filbert Bayi Foundation (FBF) and sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity through the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The event is marked by athletics, soccer, volleyball, cycling, traditional ngoma and choir competitions. Mtibenda was responding to complaints from FBF chairman Filbert Bayi on the dwindling number of participants in the festival caused by the scarcity of playgrounds, which deny youths a chance to involve themselves in sports.
The DC wondered why a person who has invaded a soccer stadium and turned it into a farm has disobeyed an order to return it to Karatu authorities.
He directed the Karatu District Cultural Officer to ensure that the soccer stadium and all open spaces are recovered. Speaking at the same occasion, Athletics Tanzania (AT) secretary general, Suleiman Nyambui, said the festival has unearthed many talented athletes and urged public and private companies to come forward and sponsor it.
Meanwhile, Arusha-based club excelled in cycling by winning the top three positions during the festival. Tom Holden led his teammates by winning the 60 kilometre cycling race in 1:46:24.47, followed by Deni Julius in 1:47:27.03 while Paulo Didas finished third in 1:27:41.43. Wilbert Peter of Moshi Police College won the men’s 10km race in 30:58.34, followed by John Leonard in 31:17.82 and Joseph Teophil in 31:23.95.
Catherine Range of Arusha Prisons shined in the women’s 5km race in 17:30.81 as Mary Naali finished second in 17:31.07 and Angelina Tsere came third in 17:57.78.
Thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Renald won the 2.5km race for primary school pupils after clocking 09:36.04, followed by Jasmin Hamad (13) in 09:56.68 and Neema Faraji in 09:59.03. Baraka Sebastian (14) won the boys’ race in 08:27.82 as James Francis finished second in 08:27.67 and Jacob Elisante was third in 09:00.09.
By COSMAS MLEKANI, Tanzania Daily News
