The Second Vice President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Athumani Nyamlani, has urged the Tanzania Amputee Football Federation (TAFF) to ensure that the Azam Amputee Football Tournament becomes an annual and sustainable event, growing in scale each year.
Speaking to The Respondent Online, Nyamlani said the tournament plays a crucial role in offering youth with disabilities a platform to showcase their talents, gain recognition, and even access employment opportunities through sports.
“There are young Tanzanians with disabilities who are already playing professional football abroad,” he said.
“This tournament should be a gateway for more of them to display their potential. Football is not just a game it’s a livelihood, and this is a powerful tool for inclusion and health.”he added
Nyamlani expressed gratitude to Azam for sponsoring the tournament, describing the company as a key partner in football development in Tanzania. He expressed optimism that the number of sponsors will increase in the coming years, allowing for wider participation from across the country.
“We must continue supporting football for everyone, without discrimination,” he added. “Our constitution forbids any form of exclusion, and it is our duty to uphold that.”
He also emphasized TFF’s commitment to working closely with TAFF to support its initiatives and provide assistance whenever needed.
TAFF President Julius Koyi, on his part, declared the recently concluded tournament a near-total success, stating that it achieved 99 percent of its intended goals.
He revealed that the tournament will be used to select players for the national amputee football team, which is expected to be announced soon.
The selected players will enter residential training later this month in preparation for the upcoming East and Central Africa Amputee Football Championship (CECAFA), to be held in September in Bujumbura, Burundi.
“We are confident that the final squad will comprise talented players from various regions of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar,” said Koyi.
“This will be a well-balanced team, and we believe we are preparing not just to participate but to compete and bring results.”he added