Tanzania is laying the foundation for a new era in archery, with the national federation rolling out a development strategy aimed at taking the sport from grassroots clubs to the global stage, including the Olympic Games.
The Tanzania Archery Federation (TAF) has started implementing a long-term plan focused on producing local coaches, expanding club networks and creating a competitive environment that will enable Tanzanian athletes to participate in international tournaments.
Federation President Kelvin Ferdinand said the initiative follows the successful establishment of the federation’s leadership and administrative structures, allowing greater focus on building the sport’s capacity and increasing participation nationwide.
He said the federation is working closely with World Archery to strengthen technical skills, with an international coach expected to arrive in Tanzania on July 30 to conduct specialised training for the country’s first generation of locally trained archery coaches.
“The first coaching course will take place from August 3 to 8, followed by another session from August 10 to 14. We expect about 80 participants to attend, with more than 50 coaches graduating from the programme,” Ferdinand said.
Participants will pay a Sh100,000 registration fee for the training, which the federation says will help support the organisation and expansion of coaching programmes.
As part of efforts to establish a strong grassroots structure, the federation has already officially registered two clubs Twiga Archery in Dodoma and Rock City Archery in Mwanza. Plans are also underway to establish additional clubs in Dar es Salaam and Karatu to widen access to the sport.
Ferdinand said expanding archery beyond major centres is critical to identifying and nurturing young talent capable of competing at national and international levels.
“We want to introduce archery in schools and communities so that more young people can discover the sport and develop their skills from an early age,” he said.
The federation is also pursuing recognition from the Tanzania Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee, a move expected to open opportunities for international exposure, athlete development programmes and access to global competitions.
According to Ferdinand, the ultimate ambition is to see Tanzania produce Olympic-level archers who can compete for honours at the highest level of sport.
“Building a successful archery programme requires investment in coaches, clubs and athletes. Our goal is to create a sustainable system that will allow Tanzanian archers to qualify for major international events and compete for medals,” he said.
The federation’s strategy represents a significant step towards positioning archery as one of Tanzania’s emerging sports, while creating new opportunities for young athletes seeking alternative pathways to international competition.
