After months of complaints over the quality of country’s football pitches, the Mainland Professional League Board (TPL) has acted and banned seven venues for not meeting standards.
A section of Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba, whose pitch is in pathetic condition and needs major overhaul.
It is correct to say that football pitches all over the country are in a very sorry state and the decision reached during the board’s meeting held in Dar es Salaam on Sunday is highly commendable.
The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Acting Secretary General, Boniface Wambura said six Mainland Premier League teams are likely to seek home grounds elsewhere, if their respective home venues could not be renovated as ordered by the league board.
He named venues that have been banned from hosting any league matches as Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba, CCM Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium in Tabora), Majimaji Stadium in Songea, Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro, Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya and Sheikh Amri Abeid Kaluta Stadium in Arusha.
In- fact, there are no more pure green grass pitches in Tanzania, with an exceptional of the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and this state -of-affair leaves a lot to be desired as far as the country’s football development is concerned.
It should be remembered that much of Tanzania’s football’s lore and history, great moments – both sad and happy – are etched and framed in former National Stadium, now renamed Uhuru Stadium’s confines.
The venue currently under major renovation was in pathetic condition prior of being turned to astro turf few years ago.
A number of CCM owned stadia put up in different regions in the country also used to be in great condition in the past but such state has drastically changed as most of them are currently in deplorable situation. Investigations show that reason for this change has to do with the poor weather condition in the country which does not encourage grasses to grow naturally particularly during the rainy seasons.
But still, it is right to say that most stadia in the country have been neglected after construction. It is a shame that there seems to be serious lack of maintenance of football pitches across the country as the pitches themselves on some occasions could be considered dangerous.
It constitutes high level of risk for the players and it is a pity they have to pass through a lot of hardship to win matches. Players risk injuries playing on regular pitches that are uneven and full of potholes. In fact, in recent times, Tanzania’s performance in football, to say the least, has been anything but not impressive.
A lot of reasons have been adduced for this lackluster performance but one of the major reasons could be lack of proper playing fields, especially in up country. Coaches and players are complaining on the situation but it seems little if not limited efforts are being made to improve the bad state of pitches.
Sacked Yanga coach Belgian Tom Saintfiet described the Sokoine Stadium pitch in Mbeya as ‘ridiculously bad’ and it was followed by another complain by his predecessor Dutchman Ernie Brandits, who was not happy with the quality of Kaitaba Stadium in Kagera.
Simba officials are also on the record complaining the bad state of the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga. Arusha’s Sheikh Amri Abeid Kaluta, Dodoma’s and Morogoro’s Jamhuri are not in good state either, same for CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza and Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
The once all-grass pitches have been replaced by baked hard unplayable turf and most are a pale shadow of their former selves. Once the pride of Arusha town and also home and slaughter ground of mighty AFC Arusha (formerly Ndovu) and Pallsons FC, a look at Sheikh Amri Abied Kaluta Stadium prompts a lot of head-shaking.
Today the stadium owned by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is a pale shadow of its former self and it should be one of the most dilapidated stadiums in the country. The once all-grass pitch has been replaced by baked hard unplayable pitch. It is the same situation at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya where the pitch is in pathetic condition.
At the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium you will be greeted with the gray uncompleted structures, which make the pavilion look like ugly wreckage and the dressing rooms have since been turned to nursery school classrooms, while at the Kaitaba Stadium the stands looked as if they have been bombed.
To make the matter worse, in most of these venues even the toilet facilities have since broken down. This is why I strongly support the league board move and in-fact, I’m sorry to say such action was delayed. There should be no compromise to safety standards. Security and safety of the players and spectators should always take centre stage.
There should be no gap for errors in this. Apparently, it is also time for owners to repair the dilapidated venues. Concentration should not only be in accumulating revenues, safety standards are highly to be considered. If we want to develop football in the country we should start with revamping the dilapidated stadiums and football pitches. Players deserve to play on high quality surfaces which provide the best opportunity to perform well.
By NASONGELYA KILYINGA, Tanzania Daily News
