The national U-20 women handball team leaves for Kigali today to participate in the 2010 Challenge Trophy tournament set to start tomorrow.
Assistant director of Sports in the Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports Juliana Yassoda yesterday handed the national flag to the squad comprising 14 players, who will be accompanied by five officials.
The players are Mariam Hamisi, Hidaya Miraji, Kazija Ally, Frola Marwa, Asha Nahodha, Judith Msafiri, Esther Protas, May Shariff, Cecilia Venance, Flora Patrick, Neema Emily, Halima Nyoni, Hamisa Mohamed and skipper Shamsa Abdallah.
The week-long event, which comes to a close on June 12, will also involve other East African countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and hosts Rwanda.
Yassoda urged the players to strive to better performance in the tournament and be good ambassadors of the country.
“This is the best opportunity for you to promote your career in handball so you should never waste it,” she said.
“Tanzania’s women handball players have for years been performing well in continental competitions and it is my hope you will maintain such an impressive record,” added Yassoda.
Team skipper Abdallah said the team will work hard throughout the event and ensure the country is well represented.
Tanzania Amateur Handball Association (TAHA) secretary general Nicholas Mihayo said the International Handball Federation (IHF) extended an invitation to Tanzania to participate in the tournament, thus his association did not hesitate to seize the opportunity.
“The tournament will also serve as preparations for the East and Central Africa U-20 women handball championship that will be hosted by Uganda later in August,” said Mihayo.
Mihayo, who will be one of the five officials accompanying the team, said other officials will be two referees and as many coaches who will attend a training course that will be held alongside the tournament.
