Football giants Azam FC, Simba SC, Young Africans SC and Mbeya City FC were among the top winners at the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations held at Hyatt Hotel in Dar es Salaam, where stakeholders in sports, media and innovation gathered to honour outstanding contributors to Tanzania’s creative and sporting industries.
The event highlighted the growing importance of intellectual property protection in sports, with clubs and individuals recognised for their efforts in safeguarding brands, promoting innovation and raising Tanzania’s profile on the international stage.
Alongside the football clubs, a number of athletes who have excelled in representing Tanzania globally were also honoured.
These included long-distance runner Alphonce Felix Simbu, athlete Hashi Thabit, football star Mbwana Samatta, as well as women’s football talents Aisha Masaka and Clara Luvanga.
In the para-sports category, recognition went to Immanuel Mlefu and Rehema Said for their remarkable contribution to sports development and their role in inspiring inclusivity in athletics.
The awards also celebrated excellence in sports journalism and coaching. Sports journalist Prisca Kishamba was named Best Female Sports Journalist, while coach Edna Lema received recognition for her outstanding leadership in coaching.
Boxing referee Pendo Njau was also honoured for her professionalism and contribution to the growth of boxing officiating in the country.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA), Godfrey Nyaisa, said the four football clubs were singled out because they are among the few in Tanzania that have formally registered their intellectual property rights with the agency.
He noted that intellectual property registration is becoming increasingly important in modern sports, where clubs’ names, logos and commercial identities play a key role in generating revenue and building strong brands.
Nyaisa further encouraged more sports organisations across the country to follow suit, stressing that protecting intellectual property would help strengthen professionalism, attract investment and enhance the commercial value of Tanzanian sports.
