International Technical Official (ITO) and coach, Ramadhani Namkoveka, has expressed readiness to spearhead a technical transformation in Tanzania’s open water swimming following his role in officiating the African Aquatics and Zone 4 Open Water Championship held in Mauritius.
Namkoveka said the international assignment exposed him to advanced standards of competition management and reinforced the importance of strictly adhering to World Aquatics regulations in order to elevate the sport locally and ensure global competitiveness.
He noted that sustainable development in open water swimming depends on full compliance with internationally recognized rules, which guarantee fairness, safety, and consistency in all competitions.
“The truth is that World Aquatics rules must be followed and implemented at 100 percent,” he emphasized.
Namkoveka thanked Tanzania for entrusting him with the opportunity to represent the country at such a high-level international event, saying the experience gained will be instrumental in strengthening the sport’s technical structure at home.
He said the knowledge acquired from officiating international competitions will be shared with coaches, officials, and athletes in Tanzania as part of a broader effort to raise technical standards across the sport.
According to him, coaches will benefit from improved training methodologies that will enhance their ability to prepare swimmers for high-performance competitions at regional and global levels.
He added that strengthening coaching capacity will play a key role in developing athletes who can confidently compete against stronger opponents on the international stage.
On referees and technical officials, Namkoveka said his focus will be to enhance their understanding of rules and ensure consistent, professional application in line with global best practices.
He also said swimmers will benefit from deeper awareness of competition rules and the demanding conditions they are likely to face in major open water events, which will help improve discipline and performance.
Namkoveka further explained that exposure to international standards will reduce technical errors during competitions and improve the overall quality of participation by Tanzanian athletes.
He emphasized that the ultimate goal is to build a strong and sustainable foundation for open water swimming in Tanzania, where all stakeholders operate at internationally competitive standards.
He said aligning local systems with World Aquatics frameworks will help unlock talent, improve performance, and increase Tanzania’s visibility in international aquatic sports.
Namkoveka also stressed the importance of consistency in training, officiating, and event management as key pillars for developing a professional swimming culture in the country.
He said lessons learned from Mauritius will be disseminated through structured training sessions, workshops, and direct engagement with stakeholders in the swimming community.
According to him, this knowledge transfer will help bridge existing technical gaps and accelerate the development of a more competitive open water swimming environment in Tanzania.
Namkoveka expressed optimism that with proper technical reforms, Tanzania has the potential to become a strong force in regional and continental swimming competitions.
He called on all stakeholders to embrace international standards, adapt to modern practices, and work collaboratively to elevate the sport.
He concluded that his commitment is to ensure that the experience gained at the international level is fully utilized to transform the future of open water swimming in Tanzania.
