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The Tanzania Handball Federation (THF) has directed regional associations to strengthen grassroots structures and ensure regular participation in national competitions as part of efforts to accelerate the growth of handball in the country.
Speaking to The Respondent Online, THF President Michael Chibawala said every regional association has been instructed to participate in at least two national tournaments annually in order to improve competitiveness and talent development.
He said the federation wants regions to establish vibrant local leagues capable of producing strong representatives for national competitions, a move expected to widen the talent pool and improve standards of the game across the country.
Chibawala explained that THF has also directed regional associations to register district members and build sustainable structures that will enable each region to have at least four active teams by December 2027.
“We want to strengthen and empower our regional members so they can effectively run the federation’s activities and contribute to the growth of handball in Tanzania,” he said.
In another major step aimed at professionalising the sport, the federation plans to roll out training programmes for coaches, referees and regional leaders, acknowledging that many sports administrators have not received formal sports leadership training.
He added that THF is in the final stages of appointing a new secretariat, with the names expected to be announced next week alongside preparations for a leadership seminar targeting federation officials.
The seminar is scheduled to take place in June during the UMITASHUMTA and UMISETA games in Iringa, where sports stakeholders will also discuss strategies for developing handball at school and regional levels.
At the same time, THF is seeking to strengthen international cooperation by inviting foreign teams to participate in the upcoming Nyerere Cup tournament set to be held in Dar es Salaam.
Chibawala said discussions with several countries have already begun as the federation seeks to transform the tournament into a strong regional competition capable of boosting exposure for local players and raising the profile of Tanzanian handball internationally.
