By Our Special Correspondent
President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday awarded the country's Women's team Serengeti Girls 30m/- for clinching the 2024 Union of North Africa Football (UNAF) Girls Under-17 title.
The brave girls claimed the championship after winning two of three fixtures in a competition held in Tunisia recently.
However, the amount was presented to the team by the Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports Damas Ndumbaro during a colourful events made to welcome home the new UNAF champions.
"President Samia is pleased with your success and has provided 30m/- as your reward... for today, we are giving you 10m/- and the remaining 20m/- will be given on Friday," Ndumbaro said.
In their last UNAF match against Tunisia at Ariana Stadium in Tunisia on Saturday, the game elapsed in a barren draw which was enough to declare the guest side overall champions.
They topped the table with 7 points from three games, scored a total of 9 goals and they conceded four goals in the process.
Speaking after being declared overall winners, the team's Head Coach Bakari Shime said he was overwhelmed with the victory and he congratulated all players for their outstanding performance.
"I am satisfied with the fact that we have amicably accomplished our mission of winning the championship, it was not easy because we played against teams that have invested a lot in women's football.
"All the three teams (Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia) enjoy good investment in their respective squads but we were able to give them required resistance.
"As such, we need to congratulate ourselves for the tangible progress that our young ladies are achieving on the continent...we have a quality squad capable to compete well at major competitions," Shime said.
On her part, one of the team's player Sarah Maringo pointed out that enough preparations they had beforehand was key for them to emerge overall champions.
"We were prepared very well for this contest that is why we have been able to do well in two games and recorded a draw in our last match...we are undefeated though," she remarked.
Her teammate Lydia Kabambo called on Tanzanians to continue supporting them saying had not been their massive backing, it could have been tough for them to claim the championship.
"We urge them to always give us support because it keeps us going, we have several competitions to play and they should rally behind us all the time like the way they have done during the UNAF," she said.
Meanwhile, Mwatima Mwarabu came out as Serengeti Girls top goal scorer after contributing 4 goals in 9 goals scored by the team.
She netted a brace in two consecutive matches against Egypt and Morocco respectively but could not find the back of the net against Tunisia as the duo registered a goalless draw.
Meanwhile, UNAF was launched in 2005 by the North African members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) which are Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.