Tanzania’s efforts to improve competitive swimming have received a significant boost with the arrival of internationally acclaimed coach Ben Lee, who is set to lead a series of high-performance clinics for swimmers, coaches and parents under a programme organised by Monti International School.
The initiative is expected to provide local athletes and coaches with access to world-class expertise, reducing the need to seek advanced training abroad. Lee has coached swimmers who have competed at the NCAA Championships and the Olympic Games, bringing decades of elite coaching experience to Tanzania.
Officials say the programme is expected to strengthen the country’s technical capacity in swimming by equipping local coaches with modern training methods while helping young athletes improve their performance.
Speaking during Lee’s reception in Dar es Salaam, National Sports Council (BMT) Sports Officer Petro Gallos urged Tanzanian coaches to take full advantage of the rare learning opportunity.
“This is an important opportunity for our coaches to acquire international knowledge and improve the standards of swimming development in Tanzania,” Gallos said.
Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) Technical Director Amina Mfaume said the programme will expose local coaches to internationally recognised coaching techniques while providing a benchmark for evaluating the progress of Tanzanian swimmers.
“The training will strengthen the capacity of our coaches and give them an opportunity to observe how elite international coaches plan and conduct training sessions,” she said.
Monti International School Director Fatma Fernandes described the partnership between the school and RaceBetter as the beginning of a long-term investment in Tanzanian swimming rather than a one-off event.
“The arrival of Ben Lee marks an important step in our vision of positioning Tanzania as a centre for swimming development in East Africa. Through this collaboration, we aim to build the capacity of swimmers, coaches and parents while creating a sustainable pathway for future success,” she said.
According to the programme schedule, coaching clinics will be held from July 28 to July 30, followed by training camps for swimmers across different age groups. The advanced training programme will conclude on August 14.
Fernandes said the coaching clinics will be offered free of charge to all coaches registered with the Tanzania Swimming Association, with Monti International School covering the full cost of bringing the international coach to Tanzania.
The sessions will take place at the school's swimming complex in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. daily.
Upon his arrival, Lee thanked the organisers for the warm reception and said his mission is to help develop local talent from the grassroots while strengthening the technical skills of coaches and swimmers.
He said sustainable investment in coach education and youth development is essential if Tanzania is to build a competitive swimming programme capable of producing athletes who can excel at regional and international competitions.
