The Dar es Salaam Athletics Association (DAA), in partnership with the Dar es Salaam Regional Sports Office, has launched a weekly Saturday athletics training clinic aimed at identifying, nurturing, and developing young athletic talent in the region.
Announcing the initiative, DAA Secretary General Felix Chunga said the program targets primary and secondary school students, as well as youths from the community, with a focus on improving physical fitness, technical skills, and competitive preparedness.
Chunga said the training sessions will officially commence on February 28, 2026, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and will be conducted every Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The clinic will run continuously as part of DAA’s long-term athlete development strategy.
“We have identified the need for regular, structured joint training sessions to systematically build our young athletes both physically and technically, while preparing them for competitive engagements at different levels,” Chunga said.
He added that the initiative forms part of broader preparations for several upcoming competitions, including the DAA Youth Talent Championships, scheduled to take place from March 27 to 29, 2026, in Dar es Salaam.
Other events lined up include the East African Youth Championships (U18 and U20) to be held on April 10–11, 2026, in Kampala, Uganda; the National Athletics Championships scheduled for May 29–30, 2026, in Kibaha, Coast Region; as well as the national school sports competitions UMITASHUMTA and UMMISETA, which will be hosted in Tabora in June this year.
Chunga further noted that the clinic is also part of Tanzania’s long-term preparations for major international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games, scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland.
He called on sports teachers, athletics coaches, and members of the DAA Executive Committee to work closely together to ensure the program’s success, saying collective effort is essential to raising the standard of athletics in Dar es Salaam and across the country.
“Strong collaboration among all stakeholders is crucial if we are to build a new generation of athletes capable of competing successfully and representing our nation with pride at regional and international levels,” he emphasized.