The Government has been urged to invest in the construction of indoor sports facilities, particularly volleyball courts, to ensure league competitions continue uninterrupted during the rainy season.
The appeal was made by the Chairperson of the Technical Committee of the Dar es Salaam Regional Volleyball Association (DAREVA), Joseph Mwaduwa, who said the lack of indoor venues has increasingly affected the smooth running of volleyball competitions in the city.
Speaking to The Respondent Online, Mwaduwa called on the government, through the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports led by Minister Paul Makonda, as well as other sports stakeholders, to prioritise the development of modern sports infrastructure, especially indoor courts.
He explained that indoor facilities would allow matches to continue regardless of weather conditions, helping organisers maintain league schedules and improving the overall development of the sport.
Mwaduwa noted that currently Ilala Municipality does not have an indoor volleyball court, making it difficult for teams to play when rains disrupt outdoor venues.
He pointed out that Kinondoni Municipality is relatively better positioned as it has the Don Bosco Oysterbay indoor court, which can be used when outdoor grounds become unusable due to rainfall.
“We urge stakeholders and the government to support the construction of indoor courts so that we can overcome the challenge of rain. In Ilala, for instance, there is currently no such facility,” he said.
Mwaduwa added that the development of more indoor sports venues would not only protect competition schedules but also provide better training environments for players and help raise the standard of volleyball in the country.
Despite the infrastructure challenges, he said the Dar es Salaam Regional Volleyball League is progressing well, with competition among teams intensifying as clubs continue to strengthen their squads through the recruitment of both local and international players.
He said the league has now entered its third round, with some teams having played two matches while others have played one.
However, persistent rains have disrupted several fixtures, forcing organisers to adjust match schedules and raising concerns about the league finishing within the planned timeframe.
In recent results from the men’s category, JKT defeated Kigamboni by three sets to one.
In the women’s category, KIUT secured a narrow 3–2 victory over JKT, while Chui defeated Tanzania Prisons by three sets to one.
