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.

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

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

Kama ilivyo kwa baadhi ya mashindano na ligi kwingine duniani, hii ya Uingereza huhitimishwa kwa kupata wawakilishi wa nchi kwenye michuano ya kimataifa, lakini timu tatu zinazofanya vibaya hushuka daraja na nafasi zao kuchukuliwa na nyingine tatu kutoka daraja la chini.
Katikati ya kupanda na kushuka daraja, mambo mengi hutokea, vikiwamo vibweka aina aina, ambapo vyombo vya habari havibaki nyuma kuvidaka na kuujuza umma.
Kwa Ligi Kuu ya Uingereza (EPL), timu tatu zinazomaliza zikiwa juu kwenye msimamo wa ligi hupata nafasi moja kwa moja kuingia mashindano ya kimataifa.
Timu inayoshika nafasi ya nne hulazimika kuingia kwenye hatua za mchujo kabla ya inayofanikiwa kuungana na zile tatu kwenye hatua za makundi.
Chelsea kwa hali ilivyokuwa hadi mwanzoni mwa wiki, ingeweza kuingia kwenye Ligi ya Mabingwa Ulaya kwa njia mbili.
Ya kwanza ni ya wote – kumaliza kwenye nafasi nne za juu, lakini sasa haiwezi kwani kwa pointi ilizo nazo imegota katika nafasi ya sita hata ikishinda, kushindwa au kutoka sare kwenye mchezo wake wa mwisho Jumapili dhidi ya Blackburn.
Kete ya pili iliyobaki mkononi mwake ni kuishinda Bayern Munich ya Ujerumani katika fainali ya Ligi ya Mabingwa Ulaya kwenye mechi itakayofayika mjini Munich, Ujerumani Mei 19 mwaka huu.
Vyovyote itakavyokuwa, kuna timu mbili tu hadi sasa zenye uhakika wa kushiriki michuano hiyo ya kimataifa, na zote ni za Jiji la Manchester – Manchester City na Manchester United, zinazoshika nafasi ya kwanza na ya pili kwenye msimamo wa ligi kwa mtiririko huo. Hizi zinafungana kwa pointi, kinachosubiriwa ni tofauti ya uwiano wa mabao hiyo Jumapili siku pazia la Ligi Kuu ya Uingereza linapofungwa.
Ushindi au uwiano mzuri wa mabao kwa Manchester City utamaanisha kwamba itatwaa taji la Ligi Kuu ya Barclays na hayo yatajulikana baada ya mechi yake inayofanyika nyumbani dimba la Etihad dhidi ya QPR.
Ikiwa hivyo, City ambayo haijatwaa kombe hilo kwa miaka 44, itawapokonya kombe hilo mahasimu na majirani wao – United. Mabingwa watetezi hao wanamaliza msimu ugenini kwa kukipiga na Sunderland.

Washika bunduki wa London, Arsenal, ambao kwa muda sasa wanashikilia nafasi ya tatu kwenye msimamo wa ligi itajihakkishia ushiriki wa Ligi ya Mabingwa wa Ulaya ikiwa watashinda mchezo wake wa mwisho ugenini dhidi ya West Brom inayofundishwa na Kocha mpya wa Timu ya Taifa ya Uingereza, Roy Hodgson.
Ama kwa upande wake, washindani wengine wakubwa kwenye ligi hii, Tottenham watajihakikishia nafasi ya nne kama wataishinda mechi yao inayofanyika nyumbani dhidi ya timu ngumu ya Fulham.
Klabu za England zina nafasi tatu kwenye Europa League zinazokwenda kwa washindi wa Kombe la FA ambao ni Chelsea; mabingwa wa Kombe la Carling – Liverpool na timu itakayoshika nafasi ya nne kwenye Ligi Kuu.
Ushindi wa Chelsea kwenye fainali ya Ligi ya Mabingwa Ulaya Mei 19 utamaanisha nini? Ni kwamba klabu hiyo ya Stamford Bridge itaingia moja kwa moja kwenye hatua za makundi za ligi hiyo msimu ujao.
Hiyo haitakuwa bure, bali kwa gharama ya kuipokonya fursa timu itakayokuwa imeshika nafasi ya nne katika Ligi Kuu ya England, timu ambayo sasa itapelekwa kushiriki Europa League.
Ama ushindi wa Chelsea kwenye Kombe la FA unamaanisha kwamba ikiwa haitatwaa kombe la Ligi ya Mabingwa Ulaya mwakani wataingia kwenye Europa League kama washindi wa washindi wa kombe la FA.
Liverpool ilikuwa timu ya kwanza nchini Uingereza kufuzu ushiriki wa ligi barani Ulaya kwa kushinda Kombe la Carling. Liverpool ilifanikiwa pia kufika fainali ya Kombe la FA, lakini ukiacha hayo, haikuwa na msimu mzuri, huku ikishindwa kuonyesha cheche mbele ya mashabiki wake nyumbani Anfield, kabla ya kuwatuliza Jumanne Mei 8 kwa kuikung’uta Chelsea 4 – 1 katika mchezo wa Ligi Kuu.
Nafasi nyingine zilizotarajiwa kupatikana ‘zimeyeyuka’, kwani Shirikisho la Soka la Ulaya (Uefa) limetoa nafasi tatu kwa Norway, Finland na Uholanzi kupitia kapu lake la Kuzingatia ‘Fair Play’. Hizo ni nafasi zinazotolewa na shirikisho hilo kwa vyama vya soka vya nchi kutokana na mazingatio hayo, navyo huzitoa kwa klabu zenye hadhi hiyo lakini ambazo hazikufanikiwa kupata nafasi ya ushiriki kwenye mashindano ya Uefa.
Timu tatu zinazoshika mkia kwenye Ligi Kuu zinashishwa daraja kwenda kwenye ligi ijulikanayo kama Champions.
Timu ya kwanza kujisogeza kwenye kushuka daraja ni Wolverhampton Wanderers iliyopoteza rasmi matumaini ya kubaki Ligi Kuu tangu Aprili 22 mwaka huu, baada ya kufungwa mabao 2-0 na Manchester City. Blackburn Rovers iliungana nayo Mei 7 pale ilipokubali kichapo cha bao 1-0 kutoka kwa timu isiyotabirika ya Wigan.
Timu nyingine iliyo katika hali ngumu ni Bolton, ambayo kwa uwiano wake wa mabao, itashushwa daraja isipokuwa kama itaishinda Stoke kwenye mechi yake ya mwisho huku ikiomba QPR ifungwe na Manchester City.
Ikiwa QPR itatoka sare na City, itabidi Bolton ishinde kwa idadi ya mabao tisa au zaidi ili ivuke idadi iliyo nayo QPR na hivyo kukiepuka kikombe cha kushuka daraja.
Aston Villa haipo mbali sana na eneo la hatari, lakini uwiano wake wa mabao unaiacha salama, kwani idadi yenyewe ni 17 ikilinganishwa na Bolton.

Ligi ya Taifa

Tukiingia kwenye Ligi ya Soka ya Taifa, maarufu kama Championship, mambo si haba, kwani pamekuwa na minyukano si kidogo.
Hii ni ligi inayoshirikisha timu 24, lakini ni tatu tu kati ya hizo zinazopanda kuungaa na vigogo kwenye Ligi Kuu. Timu mbili za kwanza zinaingia moja kwa moja, ile ya kwanza ikiwa ni bingwa, huku timu ya tatu hadi ya sita huingia kwenye mchujo ili kupata timu moja itakayoungana na zile mbili za kwanza.
Reading walikuwa timu ya kwanza kusherehekea kupanda daraja hadi Ligi Kuu, na walifanya hivyo wakiwa na michezo miwili mkononi, na kutwaa ubingwa siku nne baadaye.
Walijihakikishia kurejea Ligi Kuu Aprili 17 baada ya kuifunga Nottingham Forest bao 1-0 na wakiwa wametulia, wakatwaa kombe baada ya wapinzani wao wa karibu, Southampton kufungwa mabao 2-1 na Middlesbrough.
Hata hivyo, Southampton walikuja kutwaa nafasi ya pili, hivyo kujihakikishia kuingia Ligi Kuu moja kwa moja baada ya kuipa kipondo timu ya Coventry kwa mabao 4-0 katika mechi ya mwisho wa msimu.
Wapiganaji wengine waliopata kuwa katika Ligi Kuu, West Ham United wamekuwa wakihaha kufa na kupona kufanya marejeo hadi kufikia fainali ya mtoani baada ya kuichakaza Cardiff jumla ya mabao 5-0 kwenye mechi ya kwanza na ile ya marudiano ya nusu fainali.
Katika nusu fainali nyingine, Blackpool iliyokuwa na goli moja kibindoni kabla ya kuingia kwenye mchezo wake wa Jumatano dhidi ya Birmingham City, ilikata tiketi ya kucheza fainali Jumamosi na West Ham, baada ya kutoka sare ya mabao 2-2 na Birmingham. Ilikuwa inahitaji sare yoyote ile au ushindi kufika fainali.
Kama ilivyo kwenye Ligi Kuu, timu tatu za chini ya msimamo wa Ligi ya Taifa zinashuka daraja na kwenda kucheza kwenye Ligi Daraja la Kwanza.
Kati ya 24 zilizoshiriki msimu huu, Doncaster Rovers walikuwa wa kwanza kuaga michuano hii yenye ushindani mkubwa baada ya kufungwa mabao 4-3 na wanyonge wenzao Portsmouth Aprili 14.
Kama wasemavyo wa sikio la kufa halisikii dawa, Portsmouth na Coventry City waliungana na Doncaster Rovers kwa safari ya Ligi Daraja la Kwanza Aprili 21. Hali hiyo ilidhihirika baada ya Doncaster Rovers kuamua kufa na mtu kwa kuwafunga Coventry City 2-0 na Derby kuwachapa Portsmouth 2-1.

LIGI DARAJA LA KWANZA

Charlton Athletic walifanikiwa kupanda daraja baada ya kuifunga Carlisle Aprili 14 mwaka huu na kutwaa taji la ligi hiyo wiki moja tu baadaye kwa kuifunga Wycombe mabao 2-1.
Nafasi ya pili kwa timu ya kupanda moja kwa moja ilichukuliwa na Sheffield Wednesday Mei 5 baada ya ushindi wa mabao 2-0 mfungwaji akiwa ni yule yule tena – Wycombe katika uwanja wa Hillsborough.
Ushindi huo wa Sheffield Wednesday uliwasukumiza wapinzani wao, Sheffield United kuingia kwenye mechi za mchujo, ambapo imepangwa kupepetana na timu inayoshika nafasi ya sita, Stevenage . katika nusu fainali nyingine, Huddersfield Town na Milton Keynes Dons zinakwaruzana kutafuta wa kuingia fainali.
Timu nne tayari zimefurushwa kwenye ligi hii na kwenda Ligi Daraja la Pili. Rochdale ilikuwa ya kwanza kuanguka Aprili 21 baada ya kufungwa mabao 2-1 na wenzao waliokuwa wakichechemea, Chesterfield.

Exeter City, Chesterfield na Wycombe Wanderers ziliungana na Rochdale kwenye safari hiyo chungu n azote zilithibitishiwa tiketi ya usafiri wa kwenda huko Aprili 28. Hiyo ilikuwa baada ya Exeter City wanaopenda kujiita Grecians kupokea kichapo cha mabao 4-1 kutoka kwa Carlisle, huku Chesterfield ikiangukia pua kwa kukubali kipigo cha mabao 3-2 kutoka kwa Yeovil na Wycombe ikiridhia magoli mawili ya dakika za mwisho mwisho kutoka kwa Notts County hivyo kupoteza mchezo kwa mabao 4-3.

LIGI DARAJA LA PILI

Mshikemshike wa ligi hii ulishuhudia Macclesfield wakishushwa daraja Aprili 28 mwaka huu wakati
Swindon Town wakipokea tuzo na kupanda Ligi Daraja la Kwanza Aprili 21 licha ya kufungwa mabao 3-1 na Gillingham. Swindon walikuja kujihakikishia kombe baada ya kuwafyatua Port Vale mabao 5-0 wiki moja baadaye.
Waliokuwa wakishikilia nafasi ya pili, Shrewsbury Town walipanda daraja baada ya ushindi mwembamba wa bao 1-0 dhidi ya Dagenham & Redbridge Aprili 28. Nafasi ya tatu ilikwenda kwa timu ya Crawley Town na hivyo kujihakikishia kupanda daraja moja kwa moja kwa kuifunga
Accrington bao 1-0 Mei 5.
Katika mechi za mchujo kupata timu moja ya kuungana na hizo tatu kupanda daraja, Southend United inachuana na Crewe Alexandra, huku Torquay United ikitoana jasho na Cheltenham Town.
Timu mbili zilizokuwa zikiburuza mkia tayari zimetumwa kwenye ligi ya chini yake, ambayo sasa inajulikana kwa jina la Blue Square Bet Premier. Moja ya timu zilizoshushwa daraja ni Macclesfield Town, ambayo Aprili 28 mwaka huu ilikuwa siku yake ya mwisho ya miaka 15 ya ushiriki wa Ligi ya Soka. Habari hiyo mbaya ililetwa na kufungwa na Burton mabao 2-0 katika mchezo uliofanyika nyumbani. Mei 5 ilihitimisha ushiriki wa Hereford United kwenye ligi hii, licha ya ushindi wake wa mabao 3-2 dhidi ya Torquay. Walishachelewa, kwani walitakiwa washinde mechi nyingi zaidi.

BLUE SQUARE BET PREMIER
Mashindano haya yamepewa jina la Blue Square Bet Premier kwa sababu za udhamini tu, lakini jina lake hasa ni Conference National.
Kama zilivyo ligi zilizotanguliwa kusimuliwa, inashirikisha timu za England na Wales.
Timu ya Fleetwood Town ndiyo iliyoibuka kidedea msimu huu na kupandishwa moja kwa moja kwenye Ligi ya Soka. Ilikata tiketi hiyo Aprili 14 baada ya kujihakikishia ubingwa pale wapinzani wao wa karibu, Wrexham walipotoka sare ya mabao 2-2 na Grimsby.
Kwa msingi huo, Fleetwood Town itacheza Ligi Daraja la Pili msimu ujao. Huko haitakwenda yenyewe, kwa sababu kuna timu zilizopata kucheza huko zinachuana kwenye fainali ya mtoano, nazo ni
York City na Luton Town. Hapo atapatikana mshindi wa kusindikizana na Fleetwood.
Timu nne za chini ya msimamo zimeshashushwa na nafasi zake zitachukuliwa na mabingwa na washindi wa mechi za mchujo kwenye fainali za Blue Square Bet madaraja ya Kaskazini na Kusini.
Bath City walikuwa wa kwanza katika madaraja matano ya juu kuanguka. Hiyo ilikuwa baada ya
Newport County waliyokuwa wakiifukuzia kwa karibu, kuifunga York mabao 2-1 Aprili 3.
Wanyonge hao walifuatwa na Kettering Town Aprili 7, baada ya kukandikwa mabao 3-0 na Mansfield. Wiki moja baadaye Darlington nao walianguka baada ya sare yao ya mabao 2-2 dhidi ya Bath.
Hayes & Yeading walijikatia tiketi ya kung’oka mashindanoni bila kupenda Aprili 21, licha ya ushindi wao wa bao 1-0 dhidi ya Lincoln.
Vinara wa Blue Square Bet kwa kanda ya Kusini, Woking waling’aa Aprili 14 baada ya kushinda bao 1-0 dhidi ya Maidenhead. Dartford inakabiliana na Welling United kwenye mchujo wa fainali Mei 13.
Hyde ilikuwa imepandishwa kwa kofia ya ubingwa wake wa Blue Square Bet kwa kanda ya Kaskazini Aprili 21 baada ya kuitungua Boston mabao 4-1. Gainsborough inaivaa Nuneaton kwenye fainali Mei 13.

LIGI KUU YA SCOTLAND
Ligi Kuu ya Scotland (SPL) iligawanyika nusu baada ya timu zote kucheza mechi 33, ambapo timu sita za juu na sita za chini zikichezeana kwenye ‘nusu zao’.
Ni hivi, baada ya mechi hizo, timu ziligawanyika kwa ubora na udhaifu au kwa vigogo na vibonde, hivyo kwamba zile sita za chini hazingeweza kwa jinsi yoyote kutwaa pointi na kupanda hadi nafasi sita za juu, kama ambavyo zile sita za juu zilishajiimarisha hivyo kutokuwa na wasiwasi wa kupoteza nafasi zao.
Mabingwa wa Scotland ni Celtic wenye pointi 90, wakiwazidi wanaoshikilia nafasi ya pili kwa pointi 20!
Rangers ndio wa pili, wakiwa na pointi 70 kibindoni. Licha ya timu 18 kushiriki Ligi Kuu ya Scotland tangu ianzishwe (timu shiriki kwa msimu ni 12), ni Celtic na Rangers tu zilizopata kutwaa taji hilo.
Lakini wakati Rangers ikisakata vyema kandanda dimbani, hali ya klabu hiyo kiuchumi si njema, kwani inatatizwa na masuala ya fedha, jambo lililosababisha kuanzishwa taratibu za kuiweka chini ya kabidhi wasii, taratibu za ufilisi zikitarajiwa kuchukuliwa, taratibu ambazo hazijajulikana zitaisha lini na kwa vipi.
Ni katika mwanga huo, Rangers imekwanza na inavyoonekana haitaweza kushiriki, hata kama ina tiketi, michuano ya Uefa kwa msimu ujao.
Ilikuwa inategema ingeondoka vipi kwenye mtanziko huo wa ufilisi, ikiwa chini ya taratibu za kisheria na iwapo ingefanikiwa kumaliza matatizo yake, kulipa madeni na kurejea kwenye uendeshaji wa klabu kama kawaida inavyotakiwa kwa klabu za soka za Scotland.
Palikuwapo matumaini makubwa kwamba klabu ingeweza kuondokana na matatizo hayo kabla ya Machi 31 mwaka huu.
Hata hivyo, akaunti za klabu hiyo haziwezi kukaguliwa na kufungwa na wakaguzi wa hesabu katika hali ya kukidhi vigezo vya wasimamizi wa soka.
Hii ni kwa sababu wanataka kuridhishwa ni kwa vipi klabu hiyo itakidhi matakwa yao kwa kuthibitisha kwamba patakuwapo ugharamiaji wa shughuli za kila siku za klabu hadi mwishoni mwa msimu ujao wa ligi.
Kutokana na ukweli kwamba hadi Machi 31 mwaka huu kabidhi wasii hakuwa akijua nani angeichukua na kuimiliki klabu, kwa hiyo hili halingeweza kupata uthibitisho ipasavyo.
Kana kwamba hiyo haitoshi, lipo jambo la tatu, nalo ni kwamba, kwa mujibu wa kanuni za Uefa, Rangers ilitakiwa iwe imeshaweka amana au kulipa madeni yote ya kodi yaliyokuwapo Desemba 31, 2011. Madeni haya kwa Rangers yanakadiriwa kuwa zaidi ya Pauni milioni tano (£5m). Kabidhi wasii hangeweza kutimiza na kuthibitisha hili.
Jambo la nne ni kwamba, klabu ilitakiwa iwe imewalipa au kuelewana na wakopeshaji wake wote kabla ya siku ya mwisho iliyowekwa ambayo ilikuwa Machi 31 mwaka huu, jambo ambalo halikufanyika.
Lakini, msimamizi wa klabu hiyo kwa sasa, Paul Clark, alisema wazi Machi 7 kwamba matakwa ya sheria na kanuni hayakuwa yanaelekea kufikiwa.
Rangers wanapojaribu kupata suluhu ya matatizo yao, Celtic wenyewe wanachekelea, wakiendelea na sherehe za ubingwa wao waliowapokonya watani wao – Rangers.
Hili ni taji la kwanza kwa Celtic katika kipindi cha miaka minne. Ilitakata kwa kuitandka Kilmarnock mabao 6-0 Aprili 7.
Wakati Rangers wakiwa na uhakika wa kumaliza wakiwa nafasi ya pili kwa vile wana pointi 70 na wanaowafuatia, Motherwell, wana pointi 62, basi nafasi yake katika Ligi ya Mabingwa wa Ulaya inakwenda kwa hao wanaoshika nafasi ya tatu, watakaoingia na Celtic katika raundi ya tatu ya kufuzu.
Kawaida ni kwamba timu zinazomaliza zikiwa nafasi ya tatu na ya nne hufuzu kwa Europa League pamoja na waliotwaa kombe – lakini ngekewa iliyoikuta Motherwell inamaanisha kwamba timu zitakazoshika nafasi ya nne na ya tano zitafuzu.
Hearts au Hibernian kutegemeana na atakayemshinda mwenzake, wataingia hatua za mtoano kwa ajili ya Europa League huku Dundee United wanaoshika nafasi ya nne wakiingia raundi ya tatu ya kufuzu na timu itakayoshika nafasi ya tano itaingia raundi ya pili ya mchakato wa kufuzu.
Dundee United ilijihakikishia nafasi kwenye Europa League baada ya kuifunga Celtic bao 1-0 Mei 6 wakati Hearts inatarajiwa kumaliza ligi ikiwa nafasi ya tano, isipokuwa kama itafungwa na Celtic katika mechi ya mwisho ya msimu huu na wakati huo huo St Johnstone iifunge Rangers.
Hata hivyo, wakimaliza ligi wakiwa nafasi ya sita, Saints watafuzu kwa Europa League ikiwa Hearts itatwaa kombe.
Kwa mujibu wa kanuni, timu inayokuwa ya mwisho kwenye msimamo wa ligi inashushwa kwenda Daraja la Kwanza, hata kama Rangers itafilisiwa. Timu iliyoshika mkia safari hii ni Dunfermline ‘The Pars’ waliohakikishia kuondoka Ligi Kuu Mei 7 baada ya kufungwa na Hibernian inayoshika nafasi ya 11 kwa mabao 4-0.

LIGI DARAJA LA KWANZA SCOTLAND

Ross County ndio mabingwa wa Ligi Daraja la Kwanza nchini Scotland, hivyo wamemefanikiwa kuingia Ligi Kuu ya Scotland (SPL).
Vijana hao wa Highland walijihakikishia nafasi hiyo Aprili 10 baada ya Dundee kushindwa kuwafunga vibonde wa ligi hiyo, Queen of the South ambao Aprili 28 walikata tiketi ya kushuka daraja baada ya kupigishwa kwata ya mabao 3-1 na Raith Rovers.
Ayr Club, timu inayoshika nafasi ya tisa kati ya timu 10 za ligi hiyo itaingia kwenye michezo ya mtoano na timu tatu za Ligi Daraja la Pili, kujua kama itabaki Ligi Daraja la Kwanza au itaondoka.

LIGI DARAJA LA PILI SCOTLAND
Katika Ligi Daraja la Pili nchini Scotland, msimu unaomalizika umeshuhudia Cowdenbeath wakifanya vizuri na kutawazwa wafalme wapya wa soka Aprili 21 kwa kuwafunga Forfar mabao 2-0.
Timu zilizoshika nafasi ya pili hadi ya nne – Arbroath, Dumbarton na Airdrie United zinaingia kwenye mechi za mtoano na Ayr United ya Ligi Daraja la Kwanza.
Ama kwa upande wa kushuka daraja, rungu limewashukia Stirling Albion, na uhakika wa kushuka waliupata tangu Aprili 28, walipofungwa na Dumbarton mabao 2-1. Jirani zao walioshika nafasi ya tisa nao itabidi wajitetee kwa kuingia mechi za mchujo na timu tatu za Ligi Daraja la Tatu.

LIGI DARAJA LA TATU SCOTLAND

Jitihada za Alloa Atletic zimelipa, kwani timu hiyo imetwaa ubingwa na kupanda kutoka Ligi Daraja la Tatu ilikokuwa ikicheza.
Ilichanja mbuga Aprili 7 mwaka huu baada ya kuichachafya Elgin mabao 8-1. Ili kupata timu ya pili itakayopanda, timu za Queen’s Park, Stranraer na Elgin City zitamenyana kwa njia za mtoano
Pamoja na timu ya Albion Rovers inayocheza Ligi Daraja la Pili.
Hakuna timu inayoshushwa kutoka daraja hili, japokuwa East Stirling ndiyo iliyomaliza msimu ikiwa ya mwisho kwenye msimamo.
info@tanzaniasports.com

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.

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.

Joseph absconded from the TOC sanctioned training camp I Kibaha and the TOC wasted no time to impose a ban and offload him from the London-bound squad for the Olympics.

The athlete has approached the Athletics Tanzania officials seeking an apology but the later told him to proceed to the TOC.

However, the TOC in turn told AT officials to apologise on the athlete’s behalf and not the other way round.

TOC secretary general Filbert Bayi said this following report that the runner met AT officials and asked them to forgive him.

Bayi said TOC want AT to apologies to the committee not the runner himself because he is directly under the athletics association.

AT president Francis John confirmed that his association met the athlete and advised him to personally apologies to TOC and then the association will do the same.

“AT met the athlete and agree to write and submit an apology letter but the athlete himself is to apologise to the committee”, he said.

The long distance runner is reportedly to have absconded from camp where he was preparing to take part in the Prague International Marathon set for

Sanctioned by the world’s athletics governing body (IAAF), the Prague Marathon will serve as the last big qualifying event for the eagerly awaited Games.

In another development, Bayi said chances are high that long distance runner Dickson Marwa might not feature in London Olympics.

Marwa left the county a week ago for Berlin Marathon but has failed to finish on the top twenty to lose qualifier bid. Bayi said he has tried to check with the athlete and also on the organizers’ website but Marwa is not even among the top thirty.

Only two Tanzanian runners have so far qualified for the London Games, Zakia Mrisho and Samson Ramadhan

Azam thrashed visiting Toto Africa by 3-1 goals in their penultimate round match played at their backyard in Chamazi yesterday.

The victory has enabled the ice-cream makers to hit a 56-point mark, just three short of Simba’s as the winds up on Saturday.

The possibilities are wide open for both Simba and Azam to cruise into the title podium as each team urgently need to win the final match.

Azam might win their maiden title four seasons after promotion into the top flight berth should Young Africans beat their bitter rivals Simba and goal aggregate computations to work for them.

Simba have no option except to beat Yanga or draw to shrug off the pressure from the ice cream makers who have been tracking the title with inexorable quest.

Simba would have been crowned as Mainland champions yesterday had Toto edged Azam but it was the other way round as Simba are kept waiting up to the final league match.

Azam have so far closed the goal difference with Simba from the previous five to two and cautiously await their final match against Kagera sugar also to be played at their own Chamazi backyard.

Azam has five of their last games played at their Chamazi Stadium and savored a title chase boost when they earned three windfall points and as many goals courtesy of Mtibwa Sugar’s penalty boycott last week.

Azam’s Cote d‘Ivoire’s striker Kipre Tcheche opened the gates for his team when he headed home Ibrahim Mwaipopo’s cross as early as the tenth minute to keep Toto trailing.

A defensive mix up gave Tcheche a smiling moment when he slotted home the second goal for the host side, thanks to John Bochco’s intricate pass.

The Chamazi team wasted no time as they conclude their rout with the third goal in the 37th minute through striker John Bocco who combined well with Tcheche.

Toto tried in vain to hit back as Azam maintained their supremacy throughout the second half.

However, Toto got a consolation goal three minutes to time through Egina Darlington and reduce the losing margin.

The loss has dealt a huge blow to Toto who have to hand on and win their final round match on Saturday.

Three teams of African Lyon, Toto and Villa need to be careful in their fight against relegation before one of them joins Moro United and Police Dodoma in the relegation flight.

The penultimate round matches are concluded today as relegation haunted Villa Squad meet Oljoro JKT at the same venue.

Villa have to win and revive hopes of floating in the top flight berth while the game is a mere formality for the army side of Arusha.