Tanzania has been placed in Groups B and D for the 2024 Under-17 World Beach Handball Championship, set to take place this June in Tunisia.
In the boys' category, Tanzania will face Hungary, Germany, and Kenya in Group B. Other groups include Group A with Iran, Spain, Oman, and Puerto Rico; Group C featuring Tunisia, Thailand, Mexico, and the Cook Islands; and Group D with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Senegal.
On the girls’ side, Tanzania has been drawn into Group D alongside Uruguay, China, and host nation Tunisia.
Group A features Croatia, Hungary, Spain, and Senegal; Group B includes the Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico, and Bulgaria; while Group C comprises France, Germany, Thailand, and Kenya.
Speaking to The Respondent Online, Tanzania’s beach handball coach Moshi Ally said that preparations are already underway.
Some of the selected players are also training for the Tanzania Secondary Schools Sports Association (UMISETA) games, which will help in building team readiness.
“This is a big opportunity for us, even though it’s Tanzania’s first time participating in a major beach handball tournament,” said Moshi.
“We are optimistic because we have talented young players with potential, and our group includes fellow East African representatives, which boosts our confidence.”
He called on stakeholders and sports supporters to step in and support the national teams to ensure proper preparation and performance.
His colleague, Coach Jerry Mbulule, also expressed concern about the strength of their opponents, noting that Tanzania is facing teams with significant experience at the global level.
“This is our debut appearance, and that makes it difficult to predict our rivals' tactics. Our players are also new and unfamiliar with international competition,” he said.
He added that one of the key challenges is maintaining consistent training, especially as the tournament approaches.
