The defending champions in girls’ volleyball, Mtwara Region, have made an emphatic start to their title defence at Tanzania’s national UMITASHUMTA Games, defeating Lindi 3–1 in a closely contested opening match on Tuesday.
Held at the Kleruu grounds in Iringa, southern Tanzania, the match showcased both skill and determination, with Mtwara’s experience and tactical discipline proving decisive.
After securing the first set, Mtwara briefly lost momentum as Lindi levelled the match. However, the champions regrouped and took control in the third and fourth sets, sealing the victory in commanding fashion.
The UMITASHUMTA Games, organised annually by the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (OR-TAMISEMI), bring together top-performing primary school athletes from across the country in a variety of sports, fostering early talent development and regional pride.
In other opening fixtures, Kilimanjaro’s boys’ volleyball team delivered one of the day’s most dominant performances, sweeping past Tabora in straight sets (3–0).
Their cohesive play and pace overwhelmed their opponents, sending an early message of intent to other contenders.
Hosts Iringa also enjoyed a successful start, as their boys’ team secured a 3–1 win over Kagera. Backed by a lively home crowd, Iringa maintained composure and control throughout the match, earning crucial early points in the group stage.
The tournament continues this week with a packed schedule of group-stage matches across multiple venues in Iringa.
With every match critical to progression, regions are intensifying their efforts in pursuit of knockout qualification and eventual national honours.
As one of the most significant platforms for youth sport in Tanzania, the UMITASHUMTA Games remain a cornerstone in the country’s grassroots sports development strategy nurturing young talent, promoting discipline, and strengthening inter-regional unity through competition.