The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) has at last confirmed that Tanzania marathoners Mseduki Mohamed and Faustine Mussa competed at tournaments sanctioned by the international body to qualify for the London Olympic Games in July.

The Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) secretary general Filbert Bayi said IAAF has communicated in writing to confirm that the duo competed at tournaments held in Poland on March 29 and in German on May 6, respectively to attain results that make them eligible to be included in the Tanzania squad for the Games in London.

This development comes after the runners claimed through Athletics Tanzania (AT) that the tournaments were sanctioned by IAAF and they qualified for the London Olympic Games.

However, TOC hesitated to acknowledge their claims without IAAF written approval.

“As secretary general of TOC I can confirm to have received the approval letter from IAAF that our two marathoners competed at events sanctioned by the international athletics body and qualified for the London Olympic Games”, said Bayi.

This, according to Bayi means the country will have six athletes at the Games, four runners, one boxer and a swimmer.

The two runners will join Zakia Mrisho and Samson Ramadhan who are camping at Filbert Bayi Secondary School in Kibaha, boxer Seleman Kindunda and swimmer Magdalena Moshi who is attending camp in Austria where she is a sports medicine student.

Bayi said the Austria-based swimmer will join the camp soon and leave with the country delegation of 13 people on July 6 or 7 for London where they will camp at Bradford College in Leeds.

He said the delegation will include two athletics coaches, one each from swimming and boxing and other leaders who will include chief de mission.

In another development Bayi said chances are high that another swimmer will represent the country at the Games on solidarity ticket.

He said Tanzania Swimming Association requested the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider the country having two swimmers, a boy and a girl at the event.’

“We are waiting up to the end of the month to see whether the TSA application to have two swimmers at the Games on Olympic solidarity ticket would materialize”, said Bayi.

Tanzania Football Federation has signed a five-year sponsorship package worth 23 billion shillings to cater for the national soccer team. Taifa Stars in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday evening.

TFF president Leodegar Tenga, director of sports in the ministry for Information, culture, youth sports Leonard Thadeo and the brewer’s managing director Robin Geotzsche were present during the signing ceremony.

The brewer’s Kilimanjaro beer brand manager George Kavishe said the sponsorship will boost the national team ahead of African Nations and World cup qualifier series.

Proceeds from the sponsorship purse will be channeled to meet expenditures in three-star accommodation, technical trainings, medical and kits throughout the contractual span.

The brewers would purchase a 40-seater bus and meet expenditures to host and play more competitive friendly matches. Procurement of power endurance training equipments, capacity building for TFF staff and web site development, maintenance, seminars and meetings for TFF officials will also be met through the package.

Kavishe said TBL believes that the sponsorship will transform football in the country.

TFF president Tenga said the secretariat savours to have signed the sponsorship deal with TBL. Tenga said the new sponsorship deal is three times bigger than what they used to get from the previous sponsor.

He said the new sponsorship will help TFF to care for players, technical staff and team doctors and also buy modern training equipments.

Tenga also cautioned all football stakeholders in the country to treat the sponsorship with care as it has come due to commitment and hard working by TFF officials and football fraternity in general.

“The new sponsorship is a milestone in the development of football in the country, it will change the national team and football standard, may I ask all football stakeholders to treat this sponsorship with great care so that TBL is not disappointed”, he said.

The brewers’ boss Goetzsche said his company is prepared to take football in the country to the grater heights as the sponsorship will enable the national team play more trial matches.

Goetzsche also said the sponsorship will enable Stars stay at hotels which have Gymnasium and swimming pools.

He also asked the media to offer constructive criticism to TBL and TFF saying media can make the sponsorship more beneficial to football in the country.

Thadeo thanked TBL for the sponsorship which he said will improve football in the country.

He said the new sponsorship will enable the national team play more friendly matches which will give the team a chance to improve on the international football federation (FIFA) ranking.

TBL has taken over from the Serengeti Breweries that used to sponsor the team for the past five back-to-back years.

However, Tanzania is crumbling deep in the FIFA rankings, 145th, despite the presence of Danish coach Jan Poulsen who joined Stars as head coach two years ago

PAZIA la Ligi Kuu ya Uingereza (EPL) linaelekea kushushwa kwa mechi za mwisho wa msimu Jumapili hii.
Japokuwa ndiyo tamati yenyewe, bado kuna mtanziko katika mambo kadhaa muhimu ambayo hayajaamuliwa, na wa kuamua ni timu zenyewe dimbani kwa matokeo ya ama kushinda, kushindwa au sare.

Kombe Lenyewe

Mwali bado kafichwa kwa sababu mwenye dau kubwa bado hajajulikana, japokuwa ni kati ya wababe wawili wa Manchester – Manchester City na Manchester United.
Timu zote hizi mbili zina pointi 86, lakini City wana uwiano mzuri wa mabao ambayo ni manane kuliko United.
Kwa kuzingatia hayo, mechi muhimu zaidi Jumapili hii ni ile inayozikutanisha Manchester City na Queen Park Rangers (QPR), mchezo unaofanyika Etihad, nyumbani kwa City mbele ya washabiki wake. Mechi nyingine inayotia wadau matumbo joto ni ile ya Manchester United na Sunderland, United safari hii wakichezea ugenini.
Ili City watwae ubingwa wanatakiwa kuwa na matokeo kama ya United au mazuri zaidi. Kwa kifupi ni kwamba, City wakishinda kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa kutangazwa wafalme wa soka wa Uingereza.
Ni katika hali hiyo Kocha Mkuu wa Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson anasema wao wanaombea litokee jambo la ‘kijinga’ dhidi ya jirani zao (Manchester City) ili wanyakue tonge mdomoni mwao. Kwamba wao United watatekeleza wajibu wao kujitahidi kushinda mechi yao, lakini kulipata kombe itategemea nyumba ya jirani.
Lakini ikumbukwe kwamba vijana hao wa Roberto Mancini katika msimu wote wamepoteza pointi mbili tu katika uwanja wao huo wa Etihad, yaani wameshinda mechi zote isipokuwa mbili tu walizotoka sare.
Ndiyo maana washabiki wao wengi wana matumaini makubwa ya kutwaa ubingwa walioupata mara ya mwisho mwaka 1968. Wanachotegemea dhidi ya QPR ni ushindi tu.
QPR wananolewa na kocha wa zamani wa City, Mark Hughes aliyetupiwa virago Desemba 2009 baada ya kushinda mechi mbili tu kati ya 11 City walizocheza mfululizo. Kocha huyo pia ameichezea United na Ferguson anamtegemea ‘amsaidie kuiangamiza City’. Kwa ujumla timu mbili hizi za Manchester zinatarajiwa kuibuka na ushindi kwenye mechi zao hizi za mwisho.

Ligi ya Mabingwa Ulaya
Moja ya mambo yanayotafutwa kwenye mbio za Ligi Kuu ya Uingereza ni nafasi za timu kushiriki Ligi ya Mabingwa Ulaya.
Kwa minajili ya Uingereza wakati huu, panaweza kuwapo nafasi moja au mbili, wakati timu zinazowania ni Arsenal wenye pointi 67,
Tottenham waliojikusantia pointi 66 na Newcastle waliovuna pointi 65.
Mechi muhimu katika kuamua hili ni kati ya Everton na Newcastle; Tottenham Hotspur dhidi ya Fulham na West Brom wanaoikaribisha Arsenal.
Hali ilivyo ni kwamba hatima ya Arsenal imo mikononi mwao wenyewe, kwa maana kwamba wanachotakiwa ni kushinda tu ili kufuzu moja kwa moja, bila kusubiri matokeo ya mechi nyingine. Ushindi utawahakikishia kubaki nafasi ya tatu wanayoshikilia
Hata hivyo, ikiwa Arsenal watatoa sare dhidi ya Baggies, wanaweza kuvukwa na kutupwa nafasi ya nne ikiwa Tottenham watawafunga Fulham. Maana yake ni kwamba Washika Bunduki hao wa London hawatakuwa na chaguo zaidi ya kuingia kwenye mechi za mchujo ili kufuzu, huku Spurs wakisonga moja kwa moja kwenye mashindano hayo makubwa ya Ulaya.
Ikiwa Arsenal watachezea kichapo nyumbani kwa West Brom, ni dhahiri pia watakuwa wamejiweka pabaya, kwa sababu wataweza kupitwa na Spurs watakaohitaji sare tu ikiwa Arsenal itafungwa mabao mawili au zaidi. Arsenal pia watapitwa na Newcastle inayonolewa na Alan Pardew, ikiwa watawafunga Everton.
Vinginevyo ni kwamba Tottenham wakishinda mechi yake tu itakuwa imejihakikishia kupata nafasi ya nne na sare pia inaweza kuitosheleza ikiwa Newcastle hawatawafunga Everton.
Kwa upande mwingine, ili Newcastle waweze kuingia kwenye Ligi ya Mabingwa Ulaya, lazima wawafunge Everton na kuomba ama Arsenal au Tottenham wasishinde mechi zao. Ngekewa hizo tatu zikitokea, basi Newcastle itamaliza ligi ikiwa katika nafasi ya tatu.
Hata hivyo, ikiwa Chelsea itatwaa Kombe la Mabingwa Ulaya kwenye fainali dhidi ya Bayern Munich mjini Munich Mei 19 mambo yatabadilika Uingereza, kwa sababu timu itakayoshika nafasi ya nne kwenye EPL mwaka huu haitakuwa na nafasi kwenye ligi hiyo tena.
Badala yake, timu hiyo itaingia kwenye Ligi ya Europa pamoja na watakaomaliza ligi wakiwa nafasi ya tano, kwani timu inayotwaa kombe hilo inashiriki msimu unaofuata kulitetea.
Katika mazingira haya, Arsenal watatakiwa kutumia vyema nguvu na fursa kuwamaliza West Brom, kwani kwao msimu ni kama umeshaisha tu, hawana kikubwa cha kupata wala kupoteza.
Spurs wanaelekea pia kwamba watawafunga Fulham, na maana ya haya ni kwamba kuna kila dalili za Newcastle kuachiwa simanzi bila kupenda.
Pengine Bayern watalitwaa kombe la Ligi ya Mabingwa, na kwa kufanya hivyo mazingira ya EPL na ushiriki wa msimu ujao kimataifa kutoathiriwa.

Ligi ya Europa

Katika Ligi ya Europa kuna nafasi moja au mbili, nazo zinaaniwa na timu tatu: Arsenal, Tottenham na Newcastle.
Mechi muhimu kwa minajili ya kupata uwakilishi huko ni kati ya Everton na Newcastle; Tottenham dhidi ya Fulham na ile ya West Brom dhidi ya Arsenal.
Mazingira yakoje hapa? Timu itakayoshikanafasi ya tano itaingia kwenye Ligi ya Europa. Hata hivyo, Chelsea ikinyakua Kombe la Mabingwa wa Ulaya ni kwamba timu itakayoshika nafasi ya nne kwenye EPL itatupwa kwenye Ligi ya Europa. Matarajio ni kwa Newcastle kumaliza ikiwa nafasi ya tano.

Kushuka Daraja
Sehemu nyingi penye zawadi pia huwa hapakosi adhabu au karipio na kwa Ligi Kuu ya Uingereza timu zenye matokeo hasi zaidi hushushwa daraja.
Tayari timu mbili zimeshaonyeshwa njia ya kushukia, nazo ni Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nafasi moja imebaki kwenye safari hii ya kushuka, nayo inapatikana siku hii ya mwisho wa msimu wa ligi pia.
Timu zinazowindwa kwa hili ni Aston Villa yenye pointi 38, QPR iliyoambulia pointi 37 na Bolton iliookoteza pointi 35 tu katika mechi zake zote.
Mechi za kuzingatia kwa hili ni kati ya Norwich City dhidi ya Aston Villa; Manchester City wanaokabiliana na QPR na Stoke City dhidi ya Bolton Wanderers.
Ilivyo ni kwamba, kutokana na uwiano wa mabao ya kufunga na kufungwa, Aston Villa wana mabao 17 hivyo itakuwa muujiza wakishushwa daraja. Ni katika msingi huo tunawaondoa kwenye kundi hilo na kuwaacha walio vitani hasa; na kivutio ni ikiwa Bolton itaweza kuipiku QPR na kukwepa kushuka daraja.
Bolton lazima iifunge Stoke City ili walau kujiweka katika nafasi ya kuweza kubaki ligi kuu. Ikiwa QPR itatoka sare na Manchester City, basi Bolton watahitaji idadi kubwa ya mabao (tisa) ambayo si rahisi, ili kubadili msimamo na kumaliza ligi juu ya QPR kwa tofauti ya mabao.
Kihalisia ni kwamba, njia pekee ya Bolton kukiepuka kikombe cha kushuka daraja ni kushinda mechi yake na kuomba QPR wafungwe.
Kwa hali ilivyo, kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa QPR kufungwa na City, lakini halitakuwa jambo la kushangaza kuiona Bolton ikimaliza ligi ikitweta kwa sare au hata kufungwa, hivyo kushuka.
info@tanzaniasports.com

CHAMA cha Mpira wa Wavu Tanzania (TAVA), kimeanza kuwapatia mafunzo ya wiki moja makocha wa mchezo huo wa Zanzibar kwa ngazi ya kwanza.

Mafunzo hayo yaliyoanza juzi jioni, yanashirikisha makocha 42, ambao wanafundishwa mbinu mbalimbali zitakazowawezesha kuwafundisha wachezaji wanaoanzia ngazi za chini.

Mkufunzi wa mafunzo hayo Alfred Selengia kutoka kamati ya Maendeleo ya mchezo huo, amesema mafunzo hayo yanafanyika chini ya ufadhili wa Shirikisho la Kimataifa la Mpira wa Wavu (FIBV) kupitia mfuko wake wa maendeleo.

Alisema, FIVB kupitia mfuko wake huo, imetoa vifaa vya kuendesha mchezo huo ikiwemo mipira 80 na nyavu kumi vyote vikiwa na thamani ya shilingi milioni 21.8.

Alifahamisha kuwa, mafunzo hayo ni mpango wa TAVA wa kuendeleza mchezo huo Tanzania ambapo kwa kuanzia wameanza na Zanzibar na baadae wataendelea katika mikoa ya Tanga, Mwanza, Morogoro, Manyara,

Kilimanjaro, Arusha na Dar es Salaam, na kila mkoa utapatiwa vifaa hivyo.

Aliongeza kuwa, lengo kuu la mafunzo hayo ni kuwanyanyua wachezaji wachanga pamoja na kupata wachezaji wengi wenye ujuzi sahihi katika mchezo huo.

Tanzanian giants Simba have claimed the national title, after being forced to wait 10 days to celebrate.

They rounded off their campaign with a 5-0 drubbing of last year’s title holders Young Africans.

Their victory was actually assured on Friday after their nearest rivals were beaten, putting Simba out of reach.

That match, between Azam and Mtibwa Sugar, was a replay, after a previous game was controversially abandoned, postponing Simba’s success.

Azam – who have a wealthy businessman, Salim Bhakresa, behind them, nonetheless take second place and will relish their chance of making maiden appearance in continental competitions.

Simba’s win over Young Africans was the biggest score-line in any match between the two sides for more than 30 years, and confirms Simba’s resurgence.

They are on the verge of reaching the knock-out round of the Confederation Cup after winning the first leg of their tie against Al Ahly Shandy 3-0 a week ago.

The team will now represent Tanzania in next year’s Champions League as well as in the East and Central Africa Club championship, while Azam will play in the Confederation Cup.

Fans of Simba celebrated through the streets of Dar es Salaam as they finally made sure of the winning the title.

Ligi Kuu ya Uingereza ndiyo yenye mvuto mkubwa zaidi katika soka duniani, na sasa imefikisha miaka 20 tangu ilipoanza.
Ligi hii ilianzishwa na Chama cha Soka cha England Februari 20, 1992 kutokana na uamuzi wa klabu kuachana na Ligi ya Soka iliyoasisiwa 1888.
Kwa kuachana na ligi hiyo ya zamani na kuanzisha Premier League, klabu hizo ziliingia kwenye mikataba minono na haki za kuoneshwa kwenye vituo vya televisheni.
Hadi kati ya mwaka 2008 na 2009, thamani yake ilikuwa Pauni bilioni mbili. Hii ndiyo ligi ya soka inayotazamwa nawatu wengi zaidi duniani, ikirushwa kwenye nchi takriban 212 na watazamani milioni 643.

Katika msimu wa 2010/2011 wastani wa mahudhurio kwenye kila mechi ya Ligi Kuu ulikuwa watu 35,363 na ujazo uwanjani ulikuwa asilimia 92.2.
Ligi Kuu ya England imeshika nafasi ya kwanza katika Umoja wa Vyama vya Soka vya Ulaya (UEFA) katika kipindi cha miaka mitano iliyopita, ikizipiku hata zile ligi kubwa kama ya Hispania – La Liga na Bundesliga ya Ujerumani.
Tukirudi kwenye ligi ya awali, tangu 1888 klabu 23 za soka zimevishwa taji la soka la England. Kati ya klabu 45 zilizoshindana tangu kuanzishwa kwa Ligi Kuu mwaka 1992, nne zimetwaa kombe hilo, nazo ni
Manchester United iliyonyakua mataji 12, Arsenal mara tatu sawa na Chelsea, huku Blackburn Rovers ikiliambulia mara moja.
Wengi wanasema soka ni magoli, hivyo wafungaji magoli wametokea kuwa watu wanaoshangilia sana, na pengine kuhamishwa kwa kitita kikubwa msimu wa usajili unapojiri.
Ndiyo kusema wengi wao pia wamekuwa wakilipwa kiasi kikubwa cha fedha, na ndio wenye majina makubwa zaidi pia.
Katika miaka hii 20 ya Ligi Kuu, wapo waliopachika zaidi ya mabao 100, na wanaoshikilia rekodi ya juu zaidi wameshastaafu soka, ambapo wanaoendelea kuisakata hawajafanikiwa kuvunja rekodi hiyo.
Anayeongoza hadi sasa ni Alan Shearer aliyepindukia kwa mbali rekodi ya mabao 100 na kufikisha 260 hadi kutunukiwa Nishani ya Heshima ya Ufalme wa Uingereza (OBE).
Huyu alizaliwa Agosti 13, 1970 na alianzia soka kwenye klabu ya Southampton, akapanda chati na kuwa mfungaji mahiri alipojiunga na Blackburn na kumalizia ngwe yake ya soka akiwa na Newcastle.
Anakumbukwa kwa umahiri wake wa kunasa mipira ya juu kwa kichwa, lakini pia jinsi alivyokuwa tishia kwa mipira ya karibu na lango na ile iliyokufa akiipiga kutoka umbali wowote. Amepata kupewa hadhi ya mchezaji bora wamuongo na pia yumo kwenye orodha ya wachezaji mahiri 100 walio hai wa Shirikisho la Soka la Kimataifa (FIFA). Aliichezea timu ya taifa ya England mara 63 na kufunga mabao 30 na amekuwa nahodha wake mara 34. Shearerkwa sasa ni mchambuzi wa masuala ya michezo, akishiriki na Kituo cha Televisheni cha BBC kwenye kipindi maarufu cha ‘Match of the Day’ kinachohusisha uchambuzi wa mechi ya siku husika. Huyu alipata kuwa kocha waNewcastle kwa muda kwenye msimu wa 2008/9 katika mechi nane za mwisho alipokuwa ameitwa kuokoa jahazi la klabu lililokuwa linazama kwa timu kushushwa daraja.
Andy Cole ndiye anashikilia nafasi ya pili kwa wingi wa mabao, akiwa ametia kimiani mabao 187. Akipenda zaidi kuitwa Andrew nyakati hizi, mshambuliaji huyo alizaliwa Oktoba 15, 1971 na alianzia soka yake ya umahiri na Arsenal, japokuwa alicheza hapo mechi moja tu kabla ya kuhamia Bristol City.
Umahiri wake katika upachikaji mabao ulimvutia kocha waNewcastle mwaka 1993, Kevin Keegan na kumsainisha kwenye klabu yake hiyo.
Katika hali ya utata, Cole alihamia Manchester United alikofikia kilele cha mafanikio yake akishirikiana na ‘pacha’ wake, Dwight Yorke.
Baada ya kuachana na Mashetani Wekundu hao, Cole alizichezea Blackburn, Fulham, Mancheser City, Portsmouth, Birmingham na Sunderland, pasipo kurejea kwenye kasi yake ya upachikaji mabao hadi alipostaafu 2008.
Washika Bunduki wa London, Arsenal, hawana ukame wa watu mahiri kwa miongo hii miwili kwenye Ligi Kuu, kwani Thierry Henry anayejifungamanisha na klabu hiyo bado, japo haichezei kwa sasa, amepachika mabao 176
Huyu alizaliwa Agosti 17, 1977 na alijiunga na Arsenal baada ya kucheza kwa mafanikio kiasi nchini mwake Ufaransa na Italia. Kocha wa Arsene Wenger ndiye aliyembadili Henry kuwa mfunga magoli mzuri na mabao yake yameipatia taji Arsenal mara mbili. Aliondoka Arsenal 2007 kujiunga na Barcelona ya Hispania kabla ya kuhamia New York Red Bulls na kurejea kwa hamasa Emirates Januari 2012, akiichezea Arsenal kwa mkopo kwa wiki saba na kufunga magoli muhimu machache.
Robbie Fowler aliyezaliwa Aprili 9, 1975 anashika nambanne kwa kufunga mabao 163 kwenye Ligi Kuu. Alikulia Toxteth, moja ya maeneo yasiyo na hadhi mjini Liverpool na baadaye akaja kuwa mmoja wa wachezaji mahiri wa timu ya mji huo, Liverpool.
Anakumbukwa zaidi kwa kipaji chake cha kumalizia mipira, ambapo katika hali isiyo ya kawaida, mwaka 1994 alifunga mabao matatu ndani ya dakika nne na sekunde 33, rekodi inayoshikilia hadi leo kwa ‘hat-trick’ ya haraka zaidi katika historia ya Ligi Kuu. Aliondoka Liverpool kuhamia Leeds United na baadaye Manchester City, lakini alirejea dimba la Anfield kwa mwaka mmoja zaidi, msimu wa 2006/7. Baadaye alizichezea Cardiff City na Blackburn Rovers kabla ya kuhamia Australia mwaka 2009,alikocheza msimu mmoja katika klabu ya North Queensland Fury kisha kuhamia Perth Glory anakochezea hadi leo.
Les Ferdinand amefunga mabao 149 na alianza kung’aa kwenye upachikaji mabao akiwa na timu ya Hayes katika ligi za chini na kuendeleza ukali popote alipokwenda.
Alizidi kusikika baada ya kujiunga na Queens Park Rangers(QPR) alikochezea kwa miaka minane kabla ya kuhamia Newcastle United. Ferdinand akiwa na Shearer, walijenga ushirika tishio Tyneside na alionesha kasi, uimara na ukali wa aina yake mbele ya goli. Miaka miwili baada ya kuwa Newcastle, Ferdinand alihamia Tittenham alikocheza kwamafanikio kipindi cha miaka sita kisha akaenda kuzichezea West Ham, Leicester, Bolton na Reading.
Michael Owen naye anashikilia rekodi ya mabao hayo hayo 149 kwenye Ligi Kuu. Huyu alizaliwa Desemba 14, 1979,na ni mwana wa mshambuliaji wa enzi za miaka ya ’70, Terry Owen.
Michael Owen alianzia Liverpool 1991kabla ya kuhamia Real Madrid mwaka 2004, na kurejea England msimu uliofuata baada ya kuwa akitumika kama mchezaji wa akiba huko Hispania. Baada ya kurudi alijiunga naNewcastle alikofunga magoli mengi kuliko idadi ya dakika alizocheza akiwa Hispania. Hadi msimu wa 2011/2 Owen ni mchezaji wa Manchester United.
Wachezaji wengine waliofunga zaidi ya mabao 100 nikiungo wa Chelsea, Frank Lampard aliyepata pia kuichezea West Ham United. Huyu ana mabao 149 wakati Teddy Sherringham aliyetamba na Notts Forrest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth na West Ham alifunga mabao 147.
Wengine ni Wayne Rooney aliyepita Everton na sasa Manchester United mwenye mabao 134 na Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink aliyeng’aa akiwa Leeds United, Chelsea na Middlesborough na kupata mabao 127.
Robbie Keane aliyechezea Coventry City, Leeds, Tottenham, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham na AstonVilla alizifuma nyavu mara 126.
Wafungaji mahiri wengine ni Dwight Yorke aliyeanziaAston Villa kabla ya kuhamia Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City na Sunderland ambapo ana jumla ya mabao 123 huku Nicolas Anelkaaliyecheza Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers na Chelsea akiwa na mabao 123;
Ian Wright aliyeanzia kwa Washika Bunduki wa London na kisha kwenda West Ham amejilundikia mabao 113 wakatiEmile Heskey aliyekipiga Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wigan na Aston Villa akiwa na kumbukumbu ya mabao 111.
Dion Dublin aliyekipiga na Manchester United, Coventry na Aston Villa naye ana mabao 111 wakati Jermaine Defoealiyezichezea Tottenham, Portsmouth na West Ham akiwana mabao 109;
Ryan Giggs wa Manchester United amefunga 106 hukuPaul Scholes wa Mashetani Wekundu hao pia akiwa na mabao 103.
Gwiji Matthew Le Tissier (Southampton) amefunga mabao102 wakati Darren Bent aliyezichezea Charlton, Tottenham, Sunderland na Aston Villa akiwa na rekodi kamili ya mabao 100.
Kutokana na mvuto wa Ligi Kuu, takwimu zinaonyesha kwamba kuna wageni 750,000 kutoka nje ya nchi waliohudhuria mechi zake mwaka 2010, wakitumia jumla ya Pauni milioni 595.
Chagizo mojawapo kubwa kwa Ligi Kuu limekuwa kuibuka, kujijenga na kubakia kwa klabu zile ziitwazo ‘The Big Four’, yaani klabu nne kubwa ambazo miaka nenda rudi timu zake zimekuwa zikishika nafasi nne za juu.
Ukiiondoa Blackburn Rovers mwaka 1994-5, ni klabu tatu tu zimetwaa kombe la Ligi Kuu – Manchester United mara 12, Arsenal na Chelsea mara tatu kila moja.
Zaidi ya hapo, Manchester United haijapata kumaliza ligi nje ya nafasi tatu za juu tangu kuanzishwa kwa Ligi Kuu
Tangu msimu wa 1996-97 na kuendelea, ‘Top Four’ zimekuwa ni Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United zimetawala nafasi hizo kiasi cha kufuzu kwenye mashindano ya UEFA.
Awali ilikuwa klabu moja inafuzu, zikaongezwa kuwa mbili mwaka 1997, tatu mwaka 1999 na nne tangu 2002.
Faida za kufuzu, hasa ile ya ongezeko la mapato kwa klabu, zinaaminika kuongeza pengo kati ya timu hizo nne za juu na zile za chini.
Timu nyingine ambazo zimekuwa zikinyemelea kundi hilo la ‘Top Four’ ni Newcastle United na tangu 2009 timu mbili za Tottenham Hotspur na Manchester City zimekuwa zikipambana kupenya kwenye kundi hilo.
Kadhalika, timu zinazoshika nafasi za mwisho zimekuwana kawaida ya kuaibisha vinara wa ligi zinapokutana nazo, hasa katika michezo muhimu, vinara hao wanapohitaji ushindi.
Ligi Kuu hushirikisha klabu 20 na huendeshwa kwa mfumo wa michezo ya nyumbani na ugenini, ambapo timu inayohitimisha michezo yake kwa kushika nafasi ya kwanza ndiyo bingwa, wakati zinazoshika mkia hushuka daraja.
Msimu wake kwa kawaida ni kuanzia Agosti hadi Mei, timu zikicheza jumla ya mechi 38, ambapo mara nyingi mechi huchezwa Jumamosi na Jumapili na mara chache jioni ya siku za wiki.
Ligi hii ilianza kujulikana kama Premiership tangu 1993hadi 2007 na sasa inadhaminiwa na Benki ya Barclays, hivyo inatambulika rasmi kwa jina la Barclays Premier League.
Kumbukumbu ya Ligi ya Soka (iliyoshika nafasi ya Ligi Kuu kabla ya 1992) inaturudisha kwa aliyekuwa Mkurugenzi wa Aston Villa, Charlie Fossey aliyeshiriki kuianzisha.
Awali ilikuwa na daraja moja lenye timu 12 ambazo niAccrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke (sasa Stoke City), West Bromwich Albion na Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Ligi hiyo ilipokea wanachama zaidi mwaka 1892 kutoka kwa wapinzani waliojiita Football Alliance, ndipo ligi ikagawanywa kwenye madaraja mawili; wageni wakaingia daraja la pili na wenyeji wakawa daraja la kwanza.
Kwa miaka 100 iliyofuata, hapakuwa na ubishi kwamba Ligi Daraja la Kwanza ndiyo ilishika hatamu za soka ya kulipwa nchini England.
Kwa mafanikio yaliyopatikana na maono ya kupata utajiri kutokana na hadhi waliyokwishajijengea, ndipo walianzisha Ligi Kuu inayoendelea hadi sasa.
Ligi iliyoshika nafasi ya kwanza sasa ilifumuliwa nakuwekwa katika mfumo mpya, ikawa na madaraja kuanzia la pili, tatu na la nne. Ligi Daraja la Kwanza imekuja tena kubadilishwa jina na kujulikana kama Ligi ya Ubingwa wa Soka.
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The Chief Financial Officer of NMB, Mr Waziri Barnabas, was sports guest at the BBC Swahili studio at Bush House, London, on Saturday 28th April. During the live coverage of the Arsenal and Stoke city Premier League game at Brittania stadium, Mr Waziri, was asked by Ulimwengu Wa Soka Presenter, Idi Seif, about NMB’s involvement and commitment to assist football development in Tanzania.

He said that NMB is very involved and working closely with the Tanzania Football Association (TFF). “We are the main sponsor of the national team, Taifa Stars, through providing them sports gears and also involved in a ball project which we started in 2011. Under this project we distributed 5000 balls to schools around the country through our branches around the country”, he said. The NMB is also helping the TFF Youth football development programme.

Asked about the standard of football in Tanzania, Mr Waziri was impressed with the Tanzania Premier League and the stiff competition coming from new teams, for example, TOTO Africa and Azam FC . He underlined the need for TFF to ensure good governance during football matches to avoid disputes arising that lead to teams winning after making appeals to the appeal board. He also stressed the importance of discipline amongst players.

He said NMB is always open to considering support for sports development in Tanzania provided it fits with NMB plans and budget.

Mr Waziri, who is a Pamba FC Mwanza fan, is hoping that his team will return to the Premier League sooner rather than later so that Mwanza, the second biggest city in Tanzania, can have two teams again in the Premier League. He also supports Arsenal FC in UK.

Later in the programme Mr Waziri participated in analyzing the Arsenal –Stoke match together with the BBC Presenters and one of the BBC pundits, Israel Saria.

Lastly he wished the Twiga stars and the Tanzania National Ladies Football Team the best of luck for their coming friendly match in Mwanza against Uganda.

Klabu ya soka ya Chelsea ya Uingereza imefuzu kuingia fainali ya klabu bingwa barani Ulaya, licha ya nahodha John Terry kuonyeshwa kadi nyekundu.

Mchezo wa Jumanne ulikwisha kwa sare ya 2-2, lakini Chelsea ikapata ushindi ikiwa na jumla ya magoli 3-2.

Timu ya The Blues (Chelsea) ilikuwa imelemewa baada ya Sergio Busquets na Andres Iniesta kuiwezesha Barca kuongoza katika mechi hiyo.

Lakini Ramires kwa ustadi aliuinua mpira juu na kuandikisha bao safi la Chelsea katika mechi hiyo.

Barca walipata penalty, lakini Lionel Messi, licha ya maarifa yake na sifa nyingi katika ufundi wa penalty, aliishia kugonga mwamba.

Wakati wa muda wa majeruhi wa dakika tatu zilizoongezwa, Fernando Torres alionyesha utulivu wa hali ya juu sio tu kwa kushambulia ngome ya Barca ambayo kwa muda mrefu ilikuwa haiguswi, lakini vile vile kwa kumchenga hata kipa Valdes na kuutia mpira wavuni kwa makini.

Mapema wiki hii, Torres alikuwa amenukuliwa akisema “sio siku zote timu bora hupata ushindi”, matamshi ambayo ni ndoto iliyotimia.

Sasa vijana wa Chelsea wa Roberto di Matteo wanasubiri kufahamu kama watacheza na timu ya kocha wao wa zamani, Jose Mourinho, akiwa mkufunzi wa Real Madrid, au pengine watakutana na Bayern Munich, ambao uwanja wao ndio utakaotumiwa kuandaa fainali ya ligi ya klabu bingwa.

Real Madrid na Bayern zinapambana Jumatano jioni, tarehe 25 Aprili 2012.

Tatizo la Chelsea ni kwamba katika fainali ya Jumamosi tarehe 19 Mei, sasa watazikosa huduma za nahodha John Terry, Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic na Raul Meireles mjini Munich, kutokana na kuadhibiwa kwa kucheza mchezo wa kuumizana katika nusu fainali.

Shamrashamra zililipuka kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jijini Dar Salaam kwa mashabiki wa Simba huku wachezaji wa timu hiyo wakimbeba kocha wao Milovan Cirkovic wakidhani kwamba tayari wametwaa ubingwa kufuatia ushindi wa 3-0 dhidi ya Moro United huku wakiamini taarifa zilizosambazwa kuwa Azam wameshikiliwa katika sare ya 1-1 dhidi ya Mtibwa Sugar kwenye Uwanja wa Chamazi.

Hata hivyo, furaha hiyo ya Simba iliondoka kufuatia taarifa sahihi zilizofuata kwamba mechi ya Azam haikumalizika bali ilivunjika katika dakika ya 88 kutokana na vurugu za wachezaji wa Mtibwa Sugar kupinga penalti iliyotolewa kwa wenyeji na refa Rashid Msangi wa kutoka Dodoma.

Azam, ambao kisheria ndio wanaotarajiwa kupewa pointi tatu za mechi ya jana, watakuwa na pointi 53 na wanaweza kufikisha pointi 59, kama walizizonazo Simba sasa, kama watashinda mechi zao mbili zilizobaki dhidi ya Toto African na Kagera Sugar.

Simba sasa watahitaji kupata angalau pointi moja katika mechi yao ya mwisho dhidi ya wapinzani wao wa jadi Yanga katika mechi ya kufunga msimu Mei 5 ili kuwa mabingwa kama Azam haitadondosha hata pointi moja katika mechi zake mbili zijazo.

Vurugu za jana, zilikuwa ni tukio la tatu katika siku za karibuni kutokea katika mechi zinazoihusisha timu tajiri ya Azam kutokana na timu pinzani kupinga maamuzi ya refa.

Machi 10, beki wa Yanga, Stephano Mwasika alimpiga ngumi refa Israel Nkongo wakati akipinga kutolewa kwa kadi nyekundu kwa kiungo wa timu hiyo ya ambayo imetema ubingwa wake msimu huu, Haruna Niyonzima, na Wanajangwani wakalala 3-1.

Yanga walitaka mechi hiyo, ambayo beki wao mwingine Nadir Haroub Cannavaro alitolewa kwa kadi nyekundu, irudiwe lakini rufaa yao ilidunda.

Katika mechi iliyopita ya Azam dhidi ya Polisi Dodoma kwenye Uwanja wa Jamhuri mjini Dodoma iliyomalizika kwa wageni kushinda 1-0, refa Martin Saanya alipigwa na kujeruhiwa na mashabiki akituhumiwa kuwapendelea Azam. Aliokolewa na polisi.

Beki wa Polisi Dom, Bakari Omari alitolewa kwa kadi ya pili ya njano katika dakika ya 57 kabla ya Azam kupata bao pekee lililofungwa na beki Aggrey Morris dakika saba kabla ya mechi kumalizika.

Hata hivyo, video ya goli hilo la kona lililodaiwa kuwa ni kati ya vyanzo vya kushambuliwa kwa refa huyo, ilionyesha lilikuwa sahihi kwani kipa wa Polisi hakuchezewa madhambi bali aliteleza kabla ya Morris kufunga kwa kichwa.

Kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa jana, Simba walipata goli la kuongoza mapema katika dakika ya 11 kwa njia ya penalti iliyotolewa na refa Nathan Lazaro wa Kilimanjaro baada ya beki Hilal Bingwa wa Moro United kuunawa mpira wakati akijaribu kuokoa na Patrick Mafisango kufunga ‘tuta’ hilo.

Haruna Moshi ‘Boban’ alipatia Simba goli la pili katika dakika ya 34 akimalizia pasi safi ya Uhuru Selemani na Felix Sunzu akapachika la tatu katika dakika ya 74 akitumia pasi ya Emmanuel Okwi.

Wakati huo huo, Simba ilishindwa kumtambulisha kiungo Nizar Khalfan waliyetangaza kumsajili kutokana na sababu iliyotajwa kwamba nyota huyo wa aliyetemwa na klabu yake ya Philadelphia Union ya Marekani, anauguliwa.