The Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) has officially presented their request to the government for construction of a 50-meter swimming pool which will be used to host African championship for Zone 4&5 in 2016. TSA assistant secretary general Ramadhan Namkomveka said the request was presented to the government through National Sports Council (NSC) officer Richard Timothy Mganga last weekend in Dar es Salaam. He said TSA want the government to construct the 50-meter swimming pool so that the country can successfully host the event. “The government allocated a place for the construction of the modern swimming pool, close to the National Stadium and as you know we have got the opportunity to host the zonal championship in three years time. “We thought it wise to start preparations now, and the first step is to engage stakeholders and the government is our main partner and sponsor,” he said. Mganga confirmed to have submitted the TSA request to the government. “I have submitted it to my superiors. I can not give you more details, I think we should wait to hear from the government,” said Mganga. The NSC official also thanked TSA for putting much emphasis on youths, asking the association to continue its investment in teen swimmers. Mganga was speaking this in reference to the Tanzania young swimming team which emerged third at the Kenya international championship. He said TSA should keep the team together so that it can compete at future international swimming tournaments. “As the government, we are very happy that Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) is giving priority to young swimmers. I’m told majority of the country’s team which competed at the just ended Kenya championships are swimmers aged between 7-11 years. We are very happy for this and ask them to go ahead,” he said. Captain of the team Sonia Timoth said despite the country emerging third at the tournament, they faced challenges mainly from Uganda and Kenya swimmers and said her team is prepared for other tournaments.
