Ngome have emerged as the overall winners of the Nyerere Cup handball tournament after their men’s and women’s teams clinched the respective titles in Dar es Salaam, in a competition held to honour the legacy of Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
Ngome’s men’s team sealed the championship in style, defeating Burundi’s SOS 29–22 in the final to lift the trophy.
The women’s team also secured the title after finishing top of the standings in the league-format competition.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Temeke Municipal Deputy Mayor Nuru Cassian congratulated the champions and urged teams that fell short to remain determined, work harder and use the experience gained to improve their performances in future tournaments.
Cassian said the competition went beyond sporting achievement, providing an opportunity to celebrate Nyerere’s contribution to national unity and his vision of bringing people together through activities that promote peace, friendship and solidarity.
She also praised the organisers, players and participating teams, particularly those from Burundi, for contributing to the tournament’s success and strengthening ties between the participating countries.
Meanwhile, Tanzania Handball Federation (THF) President Michael Chibawala said the Nyerere Cup had provided an important platform for identifying talented players who could be selected for the national team ahead of the Africa Zone Five Championships scheduled to take place in Kibaha from November 4 to 9, 2026.
Chibawala said the regional tournament was expected to attract 11 countries: Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti and Egypt.
He called on Tanzanians to turn out in large numbers to support the national team, stressing that strong public backing would help motivate the players as they compete against some of the region’s leading handball sides.
Beyond identifying talent, Chibawala said the Nyerere Cup had strengthened international cooperation and provided coaches and technical teams with an opportunity to exchange knowledge, assess different playing styles and learn new tactics from participating teams.
He noted that the involvement of teams from Burundi had further enriched the competition, giving local players and coaches valuable exposure to different approaches to the game.
Chibawala emphasised that handball was not merely about winning trophies but also about building lasting friendships, promoting peace and strengthening relations between countries through sport.
He urged stakeholders, sponsors and sports enthusiasts to continue investing in handball development to nurture emerging talent, improve the quality of competition and expand Tanzania’s participation in regional and international tournaments.
The Nyerere Cup continues to provide a platform for celebrating the values associated with Mwalimu Nyerere’s legacy while using sport to promote unity, cooperation and the development of handball in Tanzania.